The Australia national rugby union team, known as the Wallabies, has played in all ten Rugby World Cup tournaments. They have won the World Cup on two occasions; only New Zealand and South Africa have won more. Australia has hosted or co-hosted the tournament twice – in 1987 and 2003, and is scheduled to host it in 2027.
By position
By tournament
1987 New Zealand & Australia
Pool 1
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Third place play-off
1991 UK, Ireland and France
Pool 3
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
1995 South Africa
Pool A
Quarter-final
1999 Wales
Pool E
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
2003 Australia
Pool A
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
2007 France
Quarter-final
2011 New Zealand
Pool C
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Third place play-off
2015 England
Pool A
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
2019 Japan
Quarter-final
Hosting
1987
Australia hosted the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 along with New Zealand. Two stadiums in Australia were used.
Most of the pool games were in New Zealand, but the semi-finals, and one of the quarter-finals, were played in Australia.
2003
Australia won the right to host the World Cup in 2003 without the involvement of New Zealand after a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World Cup Limited. The overall stadium capacity was reduced from the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales.
The Adelaide Oval underwent a A$20 million redevelopment for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, financed entirely by the South Australian Cricket Association, with two new grandstands built adjacent to the Victor Richardson Gates. Lang Park in Brisbane was a new venue designed specifically for rugby, built at a cost of A$280 million, and was opened just before the start of the 2003 World Cup. The Central Coast Stadium was also a newly built venue, and opened in February 2000 at a cost of A$30 million.
The Sydney Football Stadium was one of two venues in Sydney that were used for football during the 2000 Olympic Games. The other venue in Sydney was the Stadium Australia which was the centrepiece of the 2000 Olympic Games. Also known as Stadium Australia, Telstra Stadium was built at a cost of over A$600 million and was the biggest stadium used in the 2003 World Cup. The only stadium with a retractable roof used was the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne.
Australia intended to bid for the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, but withdrew from the bidding. The bids were awarded to England and Japan respectively.
2027
Australia won their bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup on 12 May 2022. The tournament will take place between 10 September and 27 October, 2027.
Overall record
Team records
Most points in a tournament
- 345 – 2003
- 225 – 2007
- 222 – 2015
- 221 – 1999
- 211 – 2011
Most points in a game
- 142 – vs Namibia, 2003
- 91 – vs Japan, 2007
- 90 – vs Romania, 2003
- 68 – vs Russia, 2011
- 67 – vs United States, 2011
- 66 – vs Namibia, 2015
- 57 – vs Romania, 1999
- 55 – vs United States, 1999
- 55 – vs Fiji, 2007
Individual records
Most World Cup matches
- 21 – James Slipper (2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
- 20 – George Gregan (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
- 19 – Adam Ashley-Cooper (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)
Most points overall
- 195 – Michael Lynagh (1987, 1991, 1995)
- 125 – Matt Burke (1995, 1999)
- 100 – Elton Flatley (2003)
- 85 – Bernard Foley (2015, 2019)
- 70 – Drew Mitchell (2007, 2011, 2015)
- 65 – Matt Giteau (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
- 60 – Adam Ashley-Cooper (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)
Most individual points in a game
- 42 – Mat Rogers vs Namibia, 2003
- 30 – Elton Flatley vs Romania, 2003
- 28 – Bernard Foley vs England, 2015
- 27 – Matt Giteau vs Fiji, 2007
- 25 – Matt Burke vs France, 1999
- 25 – Chris Latham vs Namibia, 2003
- 25 – Ben Donaldson vs Georgia, 2023
Most tries overall
- 14 – Drew Mitchell (2007, 2011, 2015)
- 12 – Adam Ashley-Cooper (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)
- 11 – Chris Latham (1999, 2003, 2007)
- 10 – David Campese (1987, 1991, 1995)
- 8 – Matt Giteau (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
- 7 – Joe Roff (1995, 1999)
Most tries in a game
- 5 – Chris Latham vs Namibia, 2003
- 3 – Toutai Kefu vs Romania, 1999
- 3 – Mat Rogers vs Romania, 2003
- 3 – Lote Tuqiri vs Namibia, 2003
- 3 – Matt Giteau vs Namibia, 2003
- 3 – Rocky Elsom vs Japan, 2003
- 3 – Drew Mitchell vs Fiji, 2007
- 3 – Adam Ashley-Cooper vs United States, 2011
- 3 – Adam Ashley-Cooper vs Argentina, 2015
Most penalty goals overall
- 33 – Michael Lynagh (1987, 1991, 1995)
- 21 – Elton Flatley (1999, 2003)
- 19 – Matt Burke (1995, 1999)
- 17 – Bernard Foley (2015, 2019)
- 7 – James O'Connor (2011)
- 7 – Ben Donaldson (2023)
Most penalty goals in a game
- 8 – Matt Burke vs South Africa, 1999
- 7 – Matt Burke vs France, 1999
- 5 – Michael Lynagh vs England, 1995
- 5 – Elton Flatley vs New Zealand, 2003
Most drop goals
- 3 – Berrick Barnes (2007, 2011)
- 2 – Michael Lynagh (1987, 1991, 1995)
- 1 – George Gregan (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)
- 1 – Stephen Larkham (1999, 2003, 2007)
- 1 – Quade Cooper (2011)
Portrayal on screen
Australia can be seen playing South Africa in the feature film Invictus based on the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
References
- Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN 1-86074-602-0.
- Farr-Jones, Nick (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup. Australian Postal Corporation. ISBN 0-642-36811-2.
