The First Rugby World Cup 1987
This was the first World Cup, it featured 16 invited rugby teams, there being
no prior qualification rounds. Only seven IRB members appeared with South Africa excluded due to the international bycott, plus nine other teams who were considered the best of the rest in the world at that time. The tournament was staged in Australia and New
Zealand. The favourites were Australia with New Zealand and France as outside
bets to win the first William Webb Ellis Cup.
New Zealand were crowned champions beating France 29 points to 9 in the final at Eden Park after the French had upset the odds and beaten Australia 30 points to 24 in their semi-final staged at the Concord Oval in Sydney. New Zealand beat Wales by a much higher margin of 49 points to 6 at Ballymore.
France played New Zealand in the first RWC Final
Invited teams
Results from the pool games:
| Date and Pool |
Venue |
Sides |
Score |
| 22 May 1987 Pool C |
Eden Park |
New Zealand v Italy |
70-6 |
| 23 May 1987 Pool A |
Concord Oval |
Australia v England |
19-6 |
| 23 May 1987 Pool D |
Lancaster Park |
France v Scotland |
20-20 |
| 23 May 1987 Pool D |
Eden Park |
Romania v Zimbabwe |
21-20 |
| 24 May 1987 Pool C |
Rugby Park |
Fiji v Argentina |
28-9 |
| 24 May 1987 Pool B |
McLean Park |
Canada v Tonga |
37-4 |
| 24 May 1987 Pool A |
Ballymore |
USA v Japan |
21-18 |
| 25 May 1987 Pool B |
Athletic Park |
Wales v Ireland |
13-6 |
| 27 May 1987 Pool C |
Lancaster Park |
New Zealand v Fiji |
74-13 |
| 28 May 1987 Pool C |
Lancaster Park |
Argentina v Italy |
25-16 |
| 28 May 1987 Pool D |
Athletic Park |
France v Romania |
55-12 |
| 29 May 1987 Pool B |
Showgrounds Oval |
Wales v Tonga |
29-16 |
| 30 May 1987 Pool D |
Athletic Park |
Scotland v Zimbabwe |
60-12 |
| 30 May 1987 Pool B |
Carisbrook |
Ireland v Canada |
46-19 |
| 30 May 1987 Pool A |
Concord Oval |
England v Japan |
60-7 |
| 31 May 1987 Pool A |
Ballymore |
Australia v USA |
47-12 |
| 31 May 1987 Pool C |
Carisbrook |
Italy v Fiji |
18-15 |
| 01 June 1987 Pool C |
Athletic Park |
New Zealand v Argentina |
46-15 |
| 02 June 1987 Pool D |
Carisbrook |
Scotland v Romania |
55-28 |
| 02 June 1987 Pool D |
Eden Park |
France v Zimbabwe |
70-12 |
| 02 June 1987 Pool A |
Concord Oval |
England v USA |
34-6 |
| 03 June 1987 Pool A |
Concord Oval |
Australia v Japan |
42-12 |
| 03 June 1987 Pool B |
Homestead Stadium |
Wales v Canada |
40-9 |
| 03 June 1987 Pool B |
Ballymore |
Ireland v Tonga |
32-9 |
Quarter Finals
| 06 June 1987 |
Lancaster Park |
New Zealand v Scotland |
30-3 |
| 07 June 1987 |
Concord Oval |
Australia v Ireland |
33-15 |
| 07 June 1987 |
Eden Park |
France v Fiji |
31-16 |
| 08 June 1987 |
Ballymore |
Wales v England |
16-3 |
Semi Finals
| 08 June 1987 |
Ballymore |
New Zealand v Wales |
49-6 |
| 08 June 1987 |
Concord Oval |
France v Australia |
30-24 |
3rd place play off
| 18 June 1987 |
International Stadium |
Wales v Australia |
22-21 |
Final
| 20 June 1987 |
Eden Park |
New Zealand v France |
29-9 |
