Although international rugby has been played for well over a century, the Rugby World Cup is a relatively recent phenomenon. The first tournament took place in May and June 1987, with games played in both New Zealand and Australia. The final was held at Eden Park, Auckland, on 20 June, where the home team beat France to become the inaugural holders of the Webb Ellis Cup.
The long road to the cup - 1987 Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup fever
In the mid-20th century, nearly every major sport, and many minor ones, launched world championships. Even those with a regular place in the Olympics found such an event profitable both in financial and public relations terms. The Football World Cup began in 1930, Handball World Championships in 1938, Rugby League World Cup in 1954, Orienteering World Championships in 1966, Men’s Field Hockey World Cup in 1971 and Cricket (limited-overs) World Cup in 1975. Yet into the 1980s, the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) refused to even think about a world cup. Such a tournament would inevitably bring money into the game, with unknown consequences.
The World Cup - New Zealand cricket
A brief history
New Zealand's Black Caps were 1 of 16 teams competing in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies during March and April 2007. The teams are divided into four groups of four, with the top two teams in each group then competing in a 'Super 8' format to determine the semi-finalists.
Steve Sumner at the 1982 Soccer World Cup
Organising the tournament - 1987 Rugby World Cup
Getting down to business
The Rugby World Cup was set to take place in May or June 1987, early in the southern winter but not too long after the completion of Europe's Five Nations Tournament. The organising committee was headed by John Kendall-Carpenter, the Englishman who had voted for the cup in 1985. With South Africa expected to decline their invitation, nine non-Intenational Rugby Football Board (IRFB) nations would be needed to fill the four four-team pools.
Rugby News world cup preview issue, 1987
The 1987 Rugby World Cup preview edition of Rugby News (NZ)
The All Black with the number seven on his back is Jock Hobbs, a former captain of the team and now chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union. He had actually retired by the time of the 1987 World Cup and was replaced at this position by Michael Jones (who scored the first try of the tournament).
The other All Black pictured is John Kirwan, who scored a famous try against Italy in the first game of the World Cup. He was passed the ball following the Italians' kick-off and ran more than 80 metres to score, side-stepping about half the Italian team as he did so. He also scored a crucial try, despite a hamstring injury, in the final against France.
Rugby News world cup cover, July 1987
This cover of Rugby News features the iconic image of All Black captain David Kirk holding the Webb Ellis Cup.
Rugby News world cup cover, June 1987
Cover of Rugby News (UK), June 1987
The dots on the map, at first glance, mark the cities where matches were played. Yet there are three in far north Queensland and one in Central Otago where no matches were played. Also, several actual New Zealand venues are missing. Was it drawn by someone who did not know Antipodean geography?
Webb Ellis Cup
The Webb Ellis Cup, trophy for the Rugby World Cup competition
The union that wins the Rugby World Cup final keeps the Webb Ellis Cup until the next tournament. At 38 centimetres high, the gilded silver trophy is similar in size to football's FIFA World Cup. Both are dwarfed by the Bledisloe Cup, which is competed for annually by the All Blacks and the Wallabies, and by the Dave Gallaher Cup, which has been contested in recent years by New Zealand and France. The Six Nations Trophy is also large – it was designed to hold the contents of five bottles of champagne.
The Webb Ellis Cup was adapted from an existing model – a 1906 trophy based on a 1740 design. The satyr on one handle perhaps represents rugby’s traditionally macho culture. The nymph on the other one looks pleased to be forever unattainable. The ball portrayed on the cup is nearly round, suggesting it may have begun life as a trophy for another code. The design was chosen at the royal jewellers in London in 1986 by the English chairman of the organising committee, John Kendall-Carpenter, and the then secretary of the IRFB.
David Kirk kisses the Webb Ellis Cup, 1987
All Black captain David Kirk with the Webb Ellis Cup at Eden Park after the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and France on 20 June 1987. The All Blacks won 29–9.
Alexander Turnbull Library,
Reference no: EP/1987/2998/22-F
Further information and copies of this image may be obtained from the Library through its Timeframes website
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
