World Cup Rugby Tickets Continued
World Cup Rugby is one of the largest international national sporting competitions in
the world, with the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Games being the paramount events.
The inaugural Rugby World Cup was contested in Australia and New Zealand
between 16 nations in 1987. 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.
