Rugby World Cup (RWC) is administered by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), a subsidiary of the International Rugby Board (IRB). The IRB is a non-profit making organisation. All revenue generated through its activity is placed back in the game of Rugby.
Rugby World Cup is the primary source of revenue for the funding of Rugby development worldwide. Ninety-five percent of all money distributed by the IRB worldwide for development comes from RWC revenue. These funds underpin the IRB's strategic investments programme including High Performance funding and development grants.
The first RWC was held in New Zealand and Australia in 1987. The six tournaments to date are:
1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 IRB website
The IRB held their annual board meeting on 20-21st March 1985 at the French Railways HQ in Paris. Each member nation had a single vote and the motion was carried 6 (Australia, England, France, New Zealand, South Africa, Wales) to 2 (Ireland and Scotland). It would be staged jointly by Australia and New Zealand from the 22nd May to the 20th June 1987. This gave the two host nations approx. two years to prepare. Read the full story
It may also interest you to know that Rugby League's World Cup was first held in 1954. Read more
Venue Participating
CountriesResult Captain Coach Referee 1987 Eden Park 16 New Zealand 29
France 9David Kirk Brian Lochore Kerry Fitzgerald (Aust) 1991 Twickenham 31 Australia 12
England 6Nick
Farr-JonesBob Dwyer Derek Bevan (Wales) 1995 Ellis Park 52 South Africa 15
New Zealand 12Francois Pienaar Kitch Christie Ed Morrison (England) 1999 Millenium Stadium 69 Australia 35
France 12John Eales Rod Macqueen Andre Watson (South Africa) 2003 Telstra Stadium 82 Australia 17
England 20Martin Johnson Clive Woodward Andre Watson (South Africa) 2007 Stade de France 94 South Africa 15
England 6John Smit Jake White Alain Rolland (Ireland) 2011 Eden Park New Zealand 8
France 7Richie McCaw Graham Henry Craig Joubert (RSA)
The IRB Rugby World Cup (RWC) is now one of the the world's top three sporting competitions (the Olympics and the World Cup of Soccer being the other two).
Year Match
AttendanceWorld
Television AudienceBroadcast
TerritoriesTotal Hours
BroadcastGross Commercial
IncomeNet Surplus 1987 600,000 300 million 17 103 £3.3 million £1.0 million 1991 1 million 1.4 billion 103 1,100 £23.6 million £4.1 million 1995 1.1 million 2.38 billion 124 1,180 £30.3 million £17.6 million 1999 1.7 million 3.1 billion 209 2,425 £70 million £47 million 2003 1.9 million 3.4 billion 193 (No Eurosport) 5,414 £81.8 million £64.3 million 2007 2.25 million 4.2 billion 202 8,500 £122.4 million 2011 1.35 million 3.9 billion
The first game of every world cup to date has been started by the same whistle. The whistle is nearly 100 years old and bears an inscription saying it was used by Gil Evans in the Test match between New Zealand and England in December 1905, a match the All Blacks won 15-0.
This piece of rugby history is also believed to have been used by Albert E. Freethy in the final of the 1924 Olympics in Paris when the United States beat hosts France 17-13 at the Colombes Stadium - the last time the sport of rugby union featured in the Games.
A year later Freethy blew the whistle to dismiss Cyril Brownlie in the Test between New Zealand and England at Twickenham in January 1925, making him the first player to be sent off in an international match.
The whistle has been housed in the New Zealand Rugby Museum in Palmerston North since 16 April 1969 when they held their inaugural function, having been given by Stan Dean, who for many years was the chairman of the NZRFU and manager of the 1924/25 All Blacks.