Rugby World Cup Winners From 1987 to Present

The Rugby World Cup (RWC) has been the pinnacle of international rugby union since the first tournament back in 1987. Over the decades, men’s national teams from around the world have competed in fierce contests and a handful of nations have etched their names into history as champions.

Below, Joe Fortune presents a definitive rundown looking at the record of winners and runners-up from 1987 through the most recent tournament in 2023, before exploring common questions about prize money, winning nations, and Australia’s place in the pantheon.

Results

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Score
1987	New Zealand	France	29–9
1991	Australia	England	12–6
1995	South Africa	New Zealand	15–12 (after extra time)
1999	Australia	France	35–12
2003	England	Australia	20–17 (after extra time)
2007	South Africa	England	15–6
2011	New Zealand	France	8–7
2015	New Zealand	Australia	34–17
2019	South Africa	England	32–12
2023	South Africa	New Zealand	12–11

Across all these ten tournaments, only four nations have won the Webb Ellis Cup: South Africa national rugby union team, New Zealand national rugby union team, Australia national rugby union team, and England national rugby union team.

FAQs

How much do Rugby World Cup winners get?

Unlike many global sporting events, the awarding of direct “prize money” to the winning team of the Rugby World Cup is not always purely disclosed in the public domain, especially given the varying revenue, sponsorship, and union distribution models. According to some publicly available information it is believed that in 2019 the winners reportedly received about US $6 million from a total prize pool of US $25 million.

However, these figures do vary between tournaments, and it is common for the funds to be distributed across the union, players, development programs and administrative costs. As of the 2023 tournament, the figure appears to have been like that of the previous world cup of about $6 million. The All Blacks received about $3 million for finishing as runners up.

Winning the first 3 World Cups was a very different time than it is today as up until the mid-late 1990s Rugby Union remained an amateur sport. As such the millions of dollars which players now get paid and receive for performing well in the tournament was not even on the table.

Which countries have won the Rugby World Cup?

As of the end of the 2023 tournament, only four countries have lifted the Webb Ellis Cup:

• South Africa — 4 times (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023)
• New Zealand — 3 times (1987, 2011, 2015)
• Australia — 2 times (1991, 1999)
• England — 1 time (2003)

No other nation has yet claimed the title, underlining how elite and competitive the sport remains at its highest level. Although France have come very close on three occasions, the nearest being when they lost by 1 point to New Zealand in 2011 when the All Blacks were the hosts.

Has Australia ever won a Rugby World Cup?

Yes, Australia has been crowned world champions twice. The Wallabies first won in 1991, defeating England 12–6 at Twickenham and claimed their second title in 1999 by defeating France 35–12 in Cardiff.

Despite not winning since 1999, Australia has remained a consistent force in global rugby union, frequently reaching the knockout stages and finals of major tournaments. The last world cup was a disaster as for the first time in the Wallabies’ history the side did not manage to qualify for the knock-out stages of the tournament, that said their two world-cup wins secured their place among the sport’s elite nations.

Beyond the Final Score: Patterns & Legacy

Looking at the stats, a few patterns emerge:

• Dominance by a few: Over nearly four decades, only four nations have ever won the title — a testament to how difficult it is to reach the pinnacle in rugby union. Or you could say how few nations play the sport at a decent level due to more interest and investment in sports like soccer or rugby league.
• South Africa’s resurgence: After winning the first title in the post-apartheid era (1995), the Springboks have added three more titles, including the most recent in 2023 and are now the most successful team in RWC history.
• New Zealand’s consistency: The All Blacks have won three times and frequently challenged deep into tournaments. Their powerful style and sustained excellence keep them perennial contenders and can never be written off.
• Australia and England’s flashes of glory: The Wallabies and England achieved world-cup success but haven’t dominated consistently underlining how tough it is to win a final. England have finished runners up on three occasions whilst the Wallabies have finished second on two occasions.
• Close finals and epic contests: Many finals have been tightly contested; the 2011 final was decided 8–7, 1995 and 2003 required extra time, and 2023 ended 12–11. These nail-biters add to the tournament’s drama and legacy.
• European Failure: To date only England and France from the Northern Hemisphere have managed to reach a world cup final. Somewhat surprisingly Wales, Ireland and Scotland have fallen short.

Why Winning the RWC Matters

Winning the Rugby World Cup is more than lifting a trophy it defines eras. It crowns generations, inspires future stars, and cements national pride. For players, it’s the ultimate career achievement; for fans, it becomes part of the national sporting folklore. For unions and sponsors, it offers global exposure and financial reward.

For example:

• The 1995 triumph by South Africa marked the country’s return to international sport post-apartheid, with the victory in extra time symbolising a new era.
• New Zealand’s successes in 2011 and 2015 reinforced the All Blacks’ reputation for dominance, influencing coaching, tactical trends, and grassroots development worldwide.
• Australia’s world-cup wins in 1991 and 1999 boosted rugby’s profile Down Under, helped grow the domestic game, and inspired a generation of young players to play rugby union as opposed to AFL or NRL.

Final Thoughts

South Africa stands tall with a record four titles, the stage is set for the next chapter. As the global game expands, new challengers may emerge to the established quartet and top of the pile is Argentina. The South American country continues to defy its lack of history and has managed to not only make the semi finals but in recent times has defeated New Zealand and Australia away from home as well as landing several impressive wins over in Europe. If the recent British and Irish Lions tour down under provided any indication of what the next tournament will be like, there will be plenty of colour, lots of noise and fans across the country getting together to support the Wallabies as they aim to win the world cup for a third time.

Ahead fans can look forward to the next Rugby World Cup with anticipation wondering whether sides like Fiji, who go so well in Rugby 7s, Argentina or another new nation from the Northern Hemisphere will finally break through, or one of the traditional powers will reclaim their supremacy. Either way, the history from 1987 to now provides a grand backdrop of epic finals, legendary players and unforgettable moments. Bring on the 2027 Rugby World Cup which is set to be staged in Australia.