The previous nine editions of the Rugby World Cup have featured plenty of remarkable achievements and feats of sporting excellence, and the 2027 tournament should be no different.
The Springboks are the only side to have won the World Cup four times, a record that kicks off our list of the tournament’s noteworthy and standout achievements.
Most Men's Rugby World Cup wins
Reigning champions South Africa have the most World Cup wins with four, just ahead of the All Blacks, who have won three.
The All Blacks won the inaugural tournament in 1987 before back-to-back successes in 2011 and 2015 - which was the only time a team has retained the World Cup, before South Africa did it in 2019 and 2023.
South Africa won their first title in 1995 as hosts before subsequent wins in 2007, 2019 and 2023.
Most Men's Rugby World Cup finals
New Zealand have the most appearances in finals, with their 2023 match against South Africa their fifth time in the showpiece.
South Africa, England and Australia have all made the Rugby World Cup final four times.
England have only won the World Cup once in 2003, losing their three other final appearances in 1991, 2007 and 2019.
Australia won the World Cup in 1991 and 1999, but came up short in the 2003 and 2015 deciders.
Biggest Men's Rugby World Cup winning margin
One of Namibia's 22 defeats ranks as the heaviest ever suffered by a team after losing 142-0 to Australia in 2003.
That game saw the Wallabies also set the record for most tries in a single match as they ran in 22 scores.
Most Men's Rugby World Cup points in a single match
Unbelievably, New Zealand have managed to score more points in a single World Cup match.
In 1995, they defeated Japan 145-17, scoring 21 tries in the process, while Simon Culhane set the World Cup record for most points by an individual player in a game with his contribution of 45.
Marc Ellis also set the benchmark for most tries in a single match in that win when touching down six times.
Highest Men's Rugby World Cup point scorer overall
England's hero of 2003, Jonny Wilkinson, holds the record for most points in World Cup history having registered 277 points, 50 more than Scotland's Gavin Hastings in second.
Wilkinson also holds the World Cup record for most penalties (58) and drop goals (14) in tournament history.
Most points in a single Men's Rugby World Cup
New Zealand's Grant Fox notched a total of 126 points in the inaugural World Cup in 1987, a record for the tournament that still stands to this day.
The closest anyone has got to beating Fox’s score was in 2003 when Wilkinson registered 113 points.
Highest Men's Rugby World Cup tryscorer overall
Two players hold the record for most tries at the Rugby World Cup with Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana both registering 15 apiece.
New Zealand wing Lomu scored his 15 tries across two tournaments in 1995 and 1999, while Springboks speedster Habana needed the 2007, 2011 and 2015 finals to match Lomu's total.
Lomu (1999), Habana (2007) and New Zealand’s Julian Savea (2015) share the record for most tries at a single tournament with eight.
Most Men's Rugby World Cup appearances
England's Jason Leonard and New Zealand great Richie McCaw share the record for most World Cup appearances with 22 apiece.
Wales' Alun Wyn Jones had the chance to surpass the duo at this year's tournament, having previously made 21 World Cup outings, only to make the shock decision to retire from international rugby in the summer.
New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock (19) could instead climb to the top of the rankings if he makes four appearances in France.
Highest attendance at a Men's Rugby World Cup match
Ireland's pool stage clash with Romania in 2015 attracted 89,267 people to Wembley Stadium in London.
