The Rugby League World Cup is the biggest rugby competition in the world. It takes place once every four years and is contested by the top teams in the world. It was first held in 1987 in Australia and New Zealand and since then has been held after a gap of four years. The 2007 edition will be held in France.
Format: At the 1987 World Cup seven International Rugby Football Board member nations and nine other teams took part. These nine teams were invited to play in this meet. However, from 1991 the format was thoroughly changed. Twenty teams take part of which the eight quarter-finalists of the previous edition automatically qualify. The rest 12 were filled continental qualifying tournaments. Three teams from Europe and America, two teams from the Oceania zone and one team each from Asia and Africa automatically qualify. Out of the rest two available places, one goes to the winner of the match between the runners up of both the Asian and Oceania group team. For the last available spot, the runners-up teams of Europe and Africa play against each other. The winner of this match next takes on the second-placed team from Africa.
The teams are divided into four groups of five teams each. The eight quarter-finalists from previous edition are placed in the groups according to their rankings last time. The remaining slots are taken by the teams which have qualified through the qualifiers. They teams play four games in the group stage, getting four points for a victory and two for a draw.
They are also awarded bonus points if they score four tries in a match or lose by a margin of seven points or fewer. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals. The losing semi-finalists battle for the third place while the top two teams compete for the World Cup.
Previous Winners: New Zealand won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. Australia came up triumphs in 1991 while South Africa lifted this coveted trophy in 1995. Australia once again was crowned champions in 1999 becoming the only team to win this title twice. The 2003 Rugby World Cup was won by England and they are the current reigning champions.
