The History Of The Rugby World Cup
Rugby is one of the most popular sports played throughout the Commonwealth countries along with cricket. In particular, the sport is most popular as a national game in New Zealand, and Wales. New Zealand have traditionally been the best team in the world and only during short periods as their dominance being overturned by other teams. Every four years since 1987, there has been a Rugby World Cup where the best teams come together to compete for the Webb Ellis Trophy to find out who is the greatest team in the world.
The inaugural World Cup was held in 1987 down in Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand have always been the number one team in the world for long periods of time, and fittingly they were the first to win against France by a score of 29 points to 9 in the final.
Four years later the Rugby world cup came to Europe and was hosted by Great Britain throughout different stadiums in England, Ireland, and also France across the pond. For this tournament, a qualifying tournament was used to decide the final lineup of the 32 teams that were to compete. Four years ago it had been an invite only tournament, but now some of the lesser-known countries had to go through qualifying periods in order to make sure they got into the tournament.
It was Australia who turned up as champions on this occasion, as the hosts England were defeated in the final by a very small margin of 12 to 6.
Four years later in 1995 the tournament was first set up in South Africa. This was a very grand moment in the history of rugby as South Africa were allowed to compete in the first time due to the end of apartheid and the boycott against them on the world sporting scene.
In one of the greatest stories in the history of the game, South Africa ended up coming out of the blue as underdogs and one against the most dominant team in the world of New Zealand in the final but is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby matches of all. Nelson Mandela was there to see the captain of the team Francois Pienaar lift the trophy above his head in a great symbolic moment in the country's history.
In 1999 the World Cup was hosted primarily by Wales at matches were also played throughout the countries of the five Nations. At this World Cup one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game took place as one of the home European Nations France defeated the all Blacks by a relatively heavy margin in the final. However they were to be overturned by Australia in the final by 35 points to 12 in a fairly one-sided affair.
By 2003, the dominant team in world rugby had for the first time changed from being New Zealand and other teams from the southern hemisphere and the first time England were the team to beat at the tournament. With the great Johnny will concern at number 10 and his trusty left boot in order, England were favourites to overturn New Zealand if they were to meet them. However this was not necessary, as Australia turned up and managed to defeat New Zealand on home turf, meeting England in the final in the greatest ever be much played. True to form, they will concern provided the finishing touch to a magnificent effort by the England team.
Most recently, the World Cup has been played in 2007 and was hosted by France. South Africa became only the second team to win the trophy for a second time as they overturned the current champions and relatively unfancied England in the final. In 2011 the competition will be played in New Zealand. Were the best team in the world be able to complete a famous victory on this occasion?
The inaugural World Cup was held in 1987 down in Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand have always been the number one team in the world for long periods of time, and fittingly they were the first to win against France by a score of 29 points to 9 in the final.
Four years later the Rugby world cup came to Europe and was hosted by Great Britain throughout different stadiums in England, Ireland, and also France across the pond. For this tournament, a qualifying tournament was used to decide the final lineup of the 32 teams that were to compete. Four years ago it had been an invite only tournament, but now some of the lesser-known countries had to go through qualifying periods in order to make sure they got into the tournament.
It was Australia who turned up as champions on this occasion, as the hosts England were defeated in the final by a very small margin of 12 to 6.
Four years later in 1995 the tournament was first set up in South Africa. This was a very grand moment in the history of rugby as South Africa were allowed to compete in the first time due to the end of apartheid and the boycott against them on the world sporting scene.
In one of the greatest stories in the history of the game, South Africa ended up coming out of the blue as underdogs and one against the most dominant team in the world of New Zealand in the final but is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby matches of all. Nelson Mandela was there to see the captain of the team Francois Pienaar lift the trophy above his head in a great symbolic moment in the country's history.
In 1999 the World Cup was hosted primarily by Wales at matches were also played throughout the countries of the five Nations. At this World Cup one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game took place as one of the home European Nations France defeated the all Blacks by a relatively heavy margin in the final. However they were to be overturned by Australia in the final by 35 points to 12 in a fairly one-sided affair.
By 2003, the dominant team in world rugby had for the first time changed from being New Zealand and other teams from the southern hemisphere and the first time England were the team to beat at the tournament. With the great Johnny will concern at number 10 and his trusty left boot in order, England were favourites to overturn New Zealand if they were to meet them. However this was not necessary, as Australia turned up and managed to defeat New Zealand on home turf, meeting England in the final in the greatest ever be much played. True to form, they will concern provided the finishing touch to a magnificent effort by the England team.
Most recently, the World Cup has been played in 2007 and was hosted by France. South Africa became only the second team to win the trophy for a second time as they overturned the current champions and relatively unfancied England in the final. In 2011 the competition will be played in New Zealand. Were the best team in the world be able to complete a famous victory on this occasion?
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