RWC 2003 Hosted by Australia

The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth world cup. It was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by both Australia and New Zealand, all games were moved to Australia following a dispute between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World Cup Limited.

Watch the last minutes of the 2003 Rugby World Cup with this video, Wilkinson's drop goal wins the 2003 Webb Ellis Trophy for England. Drop goal video.

The contest returned to 8 sides being seeded from those who reached the previous quarter finals plus 12 through the qualification process. The pre-event favourites were England and New Zealand, with France, defending champions Australia and South Africa all expected to make strong showings.

The tournament was a massive world wide spectacle and at last rugby was on the same level as major competitions in football and cricket on the world stage. It also threw up surprises in New Zealand failing to reach the final and Australia who were considered massive underdogs running England so close producing the second extra time contest in RWC. The drama played out until very nearly the final whistle and Jonny Wilkinsons now famous drop goal clinched a winning scoreline of 20 points to 17 for England.


The final whistle sees England celebrate & Australia dejected


A spectactular opening ceremony launched the 2003 tournament.

Pool Stage Qualifiers

Pool A Argentina Australia Ireland Namibia Romania
Pool B France Fiji Japan Scotland USA
Pool C England Georgia Samoa South Africa Uruguay
Pool D Canada Italy New Zealand Tonga Wales

Scores from the pools:

Date Venue Sides Scores
10 October 2003 Telstra Stadium Australia v Argentina 24-8
11 October 2003 Telstra Dome New Zealand v Italy 70-7
11 October 2003 Central Coast Stadium Ireland v Romania 45-17
11 October 2003 Suncorp Stadium France v Fiji 61-18
11 October 2003 Subiaco Oval South Africa v Uruguay 72-6
12 October 2003 Telstra Dome Wales v Canada 41-10
12 October 2003 Dairy Farmers Stadium Scotland v Japan 32-11
12 October 2003 Subiaco Oval England v Georgia 84-6
14 October 2003 Central Coast Stadium Argentina v Namibia 67-14
15 October 2003 Suncorp Stadium Fiji v USA 19-18
15 October 2003 Canberra Stadium Italy v Tonga 36-12
15 October 2003 Subiaco Oval Samoa v Uruguay 60-13
17 October 2003 Telstra Dome New Zealand v Canada 68-6
18 October 2003 Suncorp Stadium Australia v Romania 90-8
18 October 2003 Dairy Farmers Stadium France v Japan 51-29
18 October 2003 Subiaco Oval England v South Africa 25-6
19 October 2003 Canberra Stadium Wales v Tonga 27-20
19 October 2003 Aussie Stadium Ireland v Namibia 64-7
19 October 2003 Subiaco Oval Samoa v Georgia 46-9
20 October 2003 Suncorp Stadium Scotland v USA 39-15
21 October 2003 Canberra Stadium Italy v Canada 19-14
22 October 2003 Aussie Stadium Argentina v Romania 50-3
23 October 2003 Dairy Farmers Stadium Fiji v Japan 41-13
24 October 2003 Suncorp Stadium New Zealand v Tonga 91-7
24 October 2003 Aussie Stadium South Africa v Georgia 46-19
25 October 2003 Adelaide Oval Australia v Namibia 142-0
25 October 2003 Canberra Stadium Wales v Italy 27-15
25 October 2003 Telstra Stadium France v Scotland 51-9
26 October 2003 Adelaide Oval Ireland v Argentina 16-15
26 October 2003 Telstra Dome England v Samoa 35-22
27 October 2003 Central Coast Stadium USA v Japan 39-26
28 October 2003 Aussie Stadium Uruguay v Georgia 24-12
29 October 2003 WIN Stadium Canada v Tonga 24-7
30 October 2003 York Park Romania v Namibia 37-7
31 October 2003 WIN Stadium France v USA 41-14
1 November 2003 Aussie Stadium Scotland v Fiji 22-20
1 November 2003 Suncorp Stadium South Africa v Samoa 60-10
1 November 2003 Telstra Dome Australia v Ireland 17-16
2 November 2003 Suncorp Stadium England v Uruguay 111-13
2 November 2003 Telstra Stadium New Zealand v Wales 53-37

Quarter finals

8 November 2003 Telstra Dome New Zealand v South Africa 29-9
8 November 2003 Suncorp Stadium Australia v Scotland 33-16
9 November 2003 Telstra Dome Francev Ireland 43-21
9 November 2003 Suncorp Stadium England v Wales 28-17

Semi finals

15 November 2003 Telstra Stadium Australia v New Zealand 22-10
16 November 2003 Telstra Stadium England v France 24-7

3rd place play off

20 November 2003 Telstra Stadium New Zealand v France 40-13

Final

22 November 2003 Telstra Stadium England v Australia 20-17

 

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