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 human impact - Passchendaele
The toll on families and communities
Almost 60% of the 100,000 New Zealanders who went to war became casualties. More than 18,000 died of wounds or disease – 12,483 of them in France and Belgium. From a population of little more than a million people in 1914, this meant that about one in four New Zealand men between the ages of 20 and 45 was either killed or wounded. The impact of war, though, reached far beyond the individuals involved; most New Zealand families, communities, workplaces, schools and clubs were affected in a very direct way.
Wellington College
Tom Ellison
Tom Ellison was captain of NZ's first official rugby team
in 1893. He invented the wing forward position and in 1903 wrote one of the game's
first coaching manuals. Off
the field he worked as an interpreter in the Native Land Court and became one of the first Maori to be admitted to the Bar.
All Blacks visiting Dave Gallaher's grave
Members of the 2000 All Blacks visit the grave of Dave Gallaher at Nine Elms Cemetery, Belgium. Gallaher, captain of the All Black 1905–1906 Originals team, was killed at Passchendaele on 4 October 1917.
From left to right: Norm Maxwell, Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett, Todd Blackadder and the team manager, Andrew Martin.
Dave Gallaher's gravestone
Ian McGibbon
David Gallaher
Dave Gallaher was captain of the1905 ‘Originals’ rugby team, the first to be known as the All Blacks. His death while fighting overseas during the First World War ensured that he acquired a mystique that transcended sport.
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.
