Wales and the Stormy Pools of World Cup History

• Coach: Steve Tandy

• Captain: Dewi Lake

• World Ranking: 11

• Band: 2

RWC STATISTICS

• Debut: v Ireland on 25 May, 1987

• Appearances: 10 – 1987-2023

• Record: Played 49 – Won 30

• Drawn 0, Lost 19

• Best placing: Third (1987)

• Points for/against: 1,398 / 953

• Tries for/against: 159 / 104

• Most RWC appearances: 21 – Alun Wyn Jones

> Wales topped their pool for a second consecutive tournament in 2023 – and fourth time in total after 1987 and 1999.

> Their best placing came in the inaugural tournament in 1987 when they beat Australia to finish third.

> Dan Biggar’s first-minute drop goal against Australia at RWC 2019 is the fastest in the tournament’s history.

PAST POOL STATISTICS

> Wales have never been drawn in a pool with France, Hong Kong China, Romania, Scotland, Spain, USA or Zimbabwe.

> They have not played Chile, while the last time they faced Spain and Zimbabwe in a test was in the 1990s.

> Wales have faced Fiji at the last five tournaments but cannot meet them at RWC 2027 pool stages as they are both in Band 2.

> Fiji and Australia are Wales’ most-common pool opponent with five meetings.

> They have not faced Italy, New Zealand or Tonga since the tournament was last held in Australia in 2003.

> Wales have only been drawn in a pool with Ireland once, back in 1995.

The World Cup Pools by Numbers

• 1 - Pool matches lost by New Zealand (v France in 2023)

• 1 - RWC 2023 saw the first all-South American match in RWC history with Argentina v Chile

• 2 - Only twice has a team gone on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup after losing a pool match (South Africa, against New Zealand in 2019 and Ireland in 2023)

• 3 - Japan are only team to win three matches in a RWC pool and not reach the knockout stage (2015)

• 4 - Georgia’s 18-18 draw with Portugal at RWC 2023 was the fourth in tournament history and first since 2011

• 6 - Most tries by an individual in a RWC pool match (Marc Ellis, New Zealand v Japan, 1995)

• 18 - Seconds after which Australia’s Elton Flatley scored the fastest-ever try in RWC history (v Romania, 2003, Brisbane)

• 45 - Most points scored by an individual in a RWC pool match (Simon Culhane, New Zealand v Japan, 1995)

• 46 - Most tries scored by a team in a single RWC pool (New Zealand, 2007)

• 142 - Biggest winning margin in a RWC pool match (Australia v Namibia, 2003)

• 145 - Most points scored by a team in a RWC pool match (New Zealand v Japan, 1995)

• 290 - Points scored in pool stage of France 2023

• 339 - Pool matches played in Men’s RWC history

• 2,248 - Tries scored in the Rugby World Cup pool stages to date

• 8,741 - Days between Japan’s first RWC victory against Zimbabwe (1991) and their second against South Africa (2015). They waited just 14 days for a third win.

• 18,233 - Points scored in the Rugby World Cup pool stages to date