Rugby World Cup Records

The following Rugby World Cup records track the highs and lows of one of the planet’s greatest sporting events.

Highest Score by a team in a Rugby World Cup match: 145, New Zealand vs. Japan 1995
Most tries scored by a team in a Rugby World Cup match: 22, Australia vs. Namibia 2003
Biggest winning margin in a Rugby World Cup match: 142, Australia vs. Namibia 2003
Most tries by a single player at the Rugby World Cup: 15, Jonah Lomu (1995, 1999)
Most tries by a player in a single Rugby World Cup campaign: 8, Jonah Lomu in 1995 and Bryan Habana in 2007
Most tries by a player in a single Rugby World Cup match: 6, Marc Ellis, New Zealand vs. Japan 1995
Most points by a single player at the Rugby World Cup: 243, Johnny Wilkinson (1999-2007)
Most points scored in a single Rugby World Cup campaign: 126, Grant Fox, 1987
Most points in a single Rugby World Cup Game: 45, Simon Culhane, New Zealand vs. Japan 1999
Most penalties kicked at the Rugby World Cup: 53, Johnny Wilkinson (1999-2007)
Most penalties in a single Rugby World Cup campaign: 31, Gonzalo Quesada, 1999
Most penalties scored in a single match: 8, Matt Burke, Gavin Hastings, Gonzalo Quesada & Thierry Lacroix
Most drop goals scored at the Rugby World Cup: 13, Johnny Wilkinson (1999-2007)
Most drop goals scored in a single match: 5, Jannie de Beer, South Africa vs. England, 1999
Longest distance drop goal: 52 meters, Andy Miller, Japan vs. Fiji 2003
Most drop goals in one tournament: 8, Johnny Wilkinson, 2003
Most Rugby World Cup matches played: 22, Jason Leonard, England 1991-2003
Most Rugby World Cup campaigns: 5, Brian Lima, Samoa 1991-2007
Oldest player in a Rugby World Cup final: Mike Catt, 36 years 33 days, England vs. South Africa 2007
Youngest player in a Rugby World Cup final: Thretton Palamo, 19 years 8 days, United States vs. South Africa 2007
Number of draws in Rugby World Cup history: 2
Number of matches where one team failed to score: 8
Most conversions in Rugby World Cup history: 39, Gavin Hastings (1987-1995)
Most conversions in a single Rugby World Cup: 30, Grant Fox, 1987
Most conversions in a single Rugby World Cup match: 20, Simon Culhane, New Zealand vs. Japan 1995
Number of teams to have participated in the Rugby World Cup during its history: 24