Records and statistics of the Women's Rugby World Cup

Last updated

Rugby World Cup records have been accumulating since the first Women's Rugby World Cup tournament was held in 1991, though these have only been officially sanctioned since 1998, with retroactive acknowledgement given to the two prior tournaments in 2009. [1]

Contents

Tournaments

Ed.YearHostFirst place gameThird place gameNum.
teams
Gold medal icon.svg ChampionScoreSilver medal icon.svg Runner-upBronze medal icon.svg ThirdScoreFourth
1 1991 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Flag of the United States.svg
United States
19–6
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
Shared [2] Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
12
2 1994 Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Flag of England.svg
England
38–23
Edinburgh Academicals, Edinburgh
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of France.svg
France
27–0
Edinburgh Academicals, Edinburgh
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
Wales
12
3 1998 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
44–12
NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
Flag of England.svg
England
31–15
NRCA Stadium, Amsterdam
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
16
4 2002 Flag of Spain.svg Spain Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
19–9
Olympic Stadium, Barcelona
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
41–7
Olympic Stadium, Barcelona
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
16
5 2006 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
25–17
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
17–8
Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
12
6 2010 Flag of England.svg England Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
13–10
Twickenham Stoop, London
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Australia
22–8
Twickenham Stoop, London
Flag of France.svg
France
12
7 2014 Flag of France.svg France Flag of England.svg
England
21–9
Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
Flag of France.svg
France
25–18
Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris
IRFU flag.svg
Ireland
12
8 2017 IRFU flag.svg Ireland [3] Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
41–32
Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
31–23
Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
Flag of the United States.svg
United States
12
9 2021 [4] Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg
New Zealand
34–31
Eden Park, Auckland
Flag of England.svg
England
Flag of France.svg
France
36–0
Eden Park, Auckland
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Canada
12
10 2025 Flag of England.svg England To be determined
Twickenham Stadium, London
To be determinedTo be determined
Twickenham Stadium, London
To be determined16
11 2029 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia To be determinedTo be determined16
12 2033 Flag of the United States.svg United States To be determinedTo be determined16


Team records

Team summaries

TeamChampionsRunners-upThird placeFourth placeTotal top 4
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 6 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021)1 (1991)7
Flag of England.svg  England 2 (1994, 2014)6 (1991, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021)1 (1998)9
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1 (1991)2 (1994, 1998)1 (2017)4
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1 (2014)4 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2021)5
Flag of France.svg  France 7 (1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2017, 2021)1 (2010)8
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1 (2010)1
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1 (1994)1
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 1 (2014)1

Titles

Most titles won
TitlesTeamTournaments
6Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021
2Flag of England.svg  England 1994, 2014
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1991

Tournament win rate

Win rateTeam
75%Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
22%Flag of England.svg  England
11%Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Most semi-finals

AppTeamTournaments
9Flag of England.svg  England 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2021
8Flag of France.svg  France 1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2021
7Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1991, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2021
5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2021
4Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1991, 1994, 1998, 2017

Participating nations

Team 1991
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
1994
Flag of Scotland.svg
1998
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
2002
Flag of Spain.svg
2006
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
2010
Flag of England.svg
2014
Flag of France.svg
2017
IRFU flag.svg
2021
Flag of New Zealand.svg
2025
Flag of England.svg
2029
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
2033
Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 5th7th7th3rd7th6th6thQQ
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil eQ
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 5th6th4th4th4th6th2nd5th4thQ
Flag of England.svg  England 2nd1st3rd2nd2nd2nd1st2nd2ndQ
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji we9thQ
Flag of France.svg  France 3rd3rd8th3rd3rd4th3rd3rd3rdQ
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany w14th16the
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong eeee12thwe
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 7th10th14th8th7th4th8theQ
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 8thw12th12thee9th5thQ
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 11th8th13theee11th12thQ
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 9th9th11th11th11th12thee
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 7thw13th15theeeee
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3rdw1st1st1st1st5th1st1stQ
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 11th [a] 11th16theeee
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 9th10the11thwQ
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 5th6th6th6th8thee10thQ
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 12th10th10th11thQ
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 6thw [b] 7th8th9the9th10theQ
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 10th10th15th12the
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1st2nd2nd5th5th5th6th4th7thQQ
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 9th4th11th10th9th8th7th8thQ
  1. as Soviet Union
  2. replaced by Scottish Students

Q = nation qualified for Final Tournament not yet played
w = nation withdrew from (final) Tournament
e = nation eliminated in qualifying stage and did not reach Final Tournament
– = nation did not enter competition.

Most appearances

AppTeam(s)
9Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada, Flag of the United States.svg  United States, Flag of England.svg  England, Flag of France.svg  France
8Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales, Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
7IRFU flag.svg  Ireland, Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
6Flag of Spain.svg  Spain, Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland, Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan


Points

Most overall points by teams using pool scoring system
Pool PointsTeamPldWDLPFPAPDW%TBLB
178Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3936031,794320+1,47492.31322
174Flag of England.svg  England 4436171,567467+1,10081.82262
144Flag of France.svg  France 44300141,167495+67268.18204
127Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 45252181,082730+35255.56194
124Flag of the United States.svg  United States 42260161,306681+62565.00191

Last updated: 29 April 2025

Most points by a team in a single match, and winning margin
PointsTeamOpponentScoreWinning MarginTournament
134Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 134–6128 1998
121Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 121-0121 1994
121Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 121-0121 2017
117Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 117-0117 2002
111Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 111-0111 1994

Player records

Points

Most overall points
RankNameTeamPointsTriesCon.Pen.DropTournaments
1 Emily Scarratt Flag of England.svg  England 175839190 2010, 2014, 2017, 2021
2 Kelly Brazier Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 115102550 2010, 2014, 2017,
3 Magali Harvey Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 112101980 2014, 2017
4 Portia Woodman-Witcliffe Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 10020000 2017, 2021
5 Tammi Wilson Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 99101470 1998, 2002
Key: Con = Conversions. Pen = Penalties. Drop = Drop Goals.
Most points in one tournament
RankNameTeamPointsTournament
1 Emily Scarratt Flag of England.svg  England 70 2014
2 Annaleah Rush*Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 68 1998
3Anne-Mieke van WaverenFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 65 1998
Portia Woodman Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 65 2017
5 Kendra Cocksedge Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 62 2017

* There exists a conflict in World Rugby points totals for the 1998 tournament and the tournament website suggesting 73 points for Annaleah Rush. This table defers to the World Rugby total.

Most points in a match by a player
RankNameTeamOpponentPointsTournament
1 Magali Harvey Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 41 2017
2 Portia Woodman Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 40 2017
3 Kendra Cocksedge Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 31 2017
Amy Westerman Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1994
5 Krista McFarren Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 30 1994
Tammi Wilson Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1998
Julia Schell Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 2025

Appearances

Most appearances
RankNameTeamAppearancesTournaments
1 Gillian Florence Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 231994-2010
2 Donna Kennedy Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 221994-2010
Anna Richards Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 221998–2010

Tries

Most overall tries
RankNameTeamTriesTournaments
1 Portia Woodman-Witcliffe Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 202017–2021
2 Sue Day Flag of England.svg  England 191998–2006
3 Patty Jervey Flag of the United States.svg  United States 161991–2002
Jennifer Crawford Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1991–1998
5 Nicola Crawford Flag of England.svg  England 151998–2006
Most tries in one tournament
RankNameTeamPointsTournament
1 Portia Woodman Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 13 2017
2 Jennifer Crawford Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10 1994
3 Sue Day Flag of England.svg  England 9 2002
Minke DocterFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 1998
4 Nicola Crawford Flag of England.svg  England 8 1998
Vanessa Cootes Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1998
Most tries in a match by a player
RankNameTeamOpponentTriesTournament
1 Portia Woodman Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 8 2017
2 Julia Schell Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 6 2025
Krista McFarren Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1994
3 Magali Harvey Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 5 2017
Maria Gallo Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2006
Vanessa Cootes Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2002
Patty Jervey Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2002
Sue Day Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2002
Vanessa Cootes Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1998
Nicola Crawford Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1998
Pamela Irby Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 1994
Amy Westerman Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1994
Patty Jervey Flag of the United States.svg  United States Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1994

Conversions

Most overall conversions
RankNameTeamConversionsTournaments
1 Emily Scarratt Flag of England.svg  England 392010–2021
2 Kendra Cocksedge Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 282010–2021
3 Kelly Brazier Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 252010–2017
4 Annaleah Rush Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 211998–2002
5 Magali Harvey Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 192014–2017
Most conversions in one tournament
RankNameTeamConversionTournament
1 Kendra Cocksedge Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 23 2017
2 Annaleah Rush Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 21 1998
3Tracey ComleyFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 15 1998
Emily Scarratt Flag of England.svg  England 2014
5Anna SchnellFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 14 2010

Penalty goals

Most overall penalties
RankNameTeamPenaltiesTournaments
1 Emily Scarratt Flag of England.svg  England 192010–2021
2Realtine ShrievesIRFU flag.svg  Ireland 141994–1998
3 Jos Bergman Flag of the United States.svg  United States 111994–1998
4Moira ShielsFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 101998–2002
5 Ashleigh Hewson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 92010–2017
Paula Chalmers Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1998–2006
Most penalties in one tournament
RankNameTeamPenaltiesTournament
1Realtine ShrievesIRFU flag.svg  Ireland 11 1998
2 Emily Scarratt Flag of England.svg  England 10 2014
3 Jos Bergman Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8 1998
Moira ShielsFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1998
Ashleigh Hewson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2014

Drop goals

Only 5 drop goals have been recorded at Women's Rugby World Cups:

Most overall drop goals
RankNameTeamDrop GoalsTournament
1Carla NegriFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 11991
Amanda BennettFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1991
Shelley Rae Flag of England.svg  England 2002
Paula Chalmers Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 2006
Elinor Snowsill Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 2014

See also

Sources

References

  1. "IRB press release". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
  2. A third place match was played – won by France, probably by 3–0. However, the game can only be considered as "unofficial" as it was not part of the original tournament plan, and the result was not recorded in any official tournament reports. The game is also not included in NZRFU international records.
  3. Was played in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom).
  4. Taking place in 2022.
  5. "Rugby World Cup Women's Stats Archive". Archived from the original on 19 June 2025.