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RUGBY World Cup
HISTORY
Prior to the Rugby World Cup, there had been
various competitions that were similar in nature. One of the largest and oldest
international rugby union competitions is the Home Nations, first played in 1883
through to 1909 between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It became the Five
Nations in 1910 when France joined, although they were excluded from 1931 to
1939 amid allegations of professionalism. Though the nations' tournament was a
European affair, it was one of the few consistent international competitions.
Rugby union was also played at the Summer Olympics, first appearing at the 1900
Paris games and subsequently at London in 1908, Antwerp in 1920, and Paris again
in 1924. France won the first gold medal, then Australasia, with the last two
being won by the United States. The International Olympic Committee however
cancelled rugby union as an Olympic sport.
The idea of a Rugby World Cup had been suggested on numerous occasions as far
back as the 1950s, though the IRFB made it clear that it did not want its member
unions to get involved in anything like a world championship. The idea
resurfaced throughout the early 1980s, and was dismissed at a 1983 IRFB meeting.
It is thought that the defining moment in the creation of such a tournament came
when the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU)
each independently wrote to the IRFB seeking to conduct a World Cup tournament.
In 1985 the IRFB approved the inaugural cup, which was to be jointly hosted by
Australia and New Zealand during May and June of 1987, though the proposition
was met with much opposition, led by the British and Irish delegations. The
decisive vote to approve the proposal came from the South African delegates, who
voted in favor despite knowing that the international sports boycott on their
country's apartheid regime would prevent their team from participating in the
tournament.
The inaugural tournament was contested in Australia and New Zealand between 16
nations. The All Blacks (New Zealand) become first ever champions, defeating
France 29 points to nine. The subsequent 1991 tournament was hosted by England,
with matches also being played throughout the rest of Britain, Ireland and
France. This tournament also saw the abolition of invitation qualification—with
a qualifying tournament being introduced which involved 35 nations. Australia
won the second tournament, defeating England, 12 points to six. The 1995
tournament was hosted by South Africa—the nation that originally tipped the vote
that saw the first event take place. The tournament was the first that South
Africa would actually play in, following the end of the international sports
boycott. The tournament had a fairytale ending, as South Africa were crowned
champions over the All Blacks, which concluded with then President Nelson
Mandela, wearing a Springbok jersey and matching baseball cap, presenting the
trophy to the South Africa's captain Francois Pienaar. The moment is seen as one
of the most emotional in the sport's history.
Celebrations at Trafalgar Square during a parade after England defeated
Australia in the 2003 final.The tournament in 1999 was hosted by Wales with
matches also being held throughout the rest of the United Kingdom, Ireland and
France. The tournament included a repechage system, alongside specific regional
qualifying places, and an increase from 16 to 20 participating nations.
Australia claimed their second title, defeating France in the final. The 2003
event was hosted by Australia; although it was originally intended to be held
jointly with New Zealand, disagreements between the IRB and the NZRFU over
sponsorship, advertising and ticketing saw the competition given in its entirety
to Australia. England emerged as champions defeating Australia in extra time.
England's win was unique in that it broke the Southern hemisphere's domination
of the event. Such was the celebration of England's victory, that an estimated
750,000 people gathered in central London to greet the team, making the day the
largest sporting celebration of its kind ever in the United Kingdom. The 2007
competition will be held in France, with matches also being held in Wales and
Scotland. The 2011 tournament was awarded to New Zealand in November 2005, ahead
of bids from Japan and South Africa.
--source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_World_Cup
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