Rugby League World Cup records

Last updated

Rugby League World Cup records have been accumulating since the first Rugby League World Cup tournament was held in 1954.

Contents

Team Records

All-time record

This all-time table compares national teams that have participated in the Rugby League World Cup by a number of criteria including matches, wins, losses, draws, total points for, total points against, etc.

This table also shows accumulated points, which treats each match as a group stage match (2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss) and accumulates them together.

As of 2021 World Cup
TeamPartPldWDLPFPAPDPtsRef
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1683711112,766768+1,998143 [1]
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 34216146358-2125 [2]
Flag of England.svg  England 738242121,111560+55150 [3]
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 62412012558670-11224 [4]
Flag of France.svg  France 1663163446751,582-90735 [5]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 94125313897487+41053 [6]
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1300320200-2000 [7]
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 5167010324370-4614 [8]
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 39315168266-987 [9]
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 1300320190-1700 [10]
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 311317227323-967 [11]
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1674373341,8451,328+51777 [12]
Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg  Aotearoa Māori [a] 131024967-182 [13]
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 83591255711,106-53519 [14]
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1300320224-2040 [15]
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 62311111536558-2223 [16]
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 5163211194537-3438 [17]
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2600636322-2860 [18]
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 6201217610351+25925 [19]
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2720576288-2124 [20]
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 6258017386637-25116 [21]

Top four finishes

Top four finishes
TeamChampionsRunners-upThird / Fourth / Losing Semi-finalists
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 12 (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017, 2021)3 (1960, 1972, 2008)1 (1954)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 3 (1954, 1960, 1972)4 (1964, 1970, 1977, 1992)2 (1968, 1988)
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1 (2008)3 (1985–88, 2000, 2013)11 (1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1992, 1995, 2021)
Flag of England.svg  England 3 (1975, 1995, 2017)4 (2000, 2008, 2013, 2021)
Flag of France.svg  France 2 (1954, 1968)6 (1957, 1960, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1992)
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa

1 (2021)

Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales

3 (1975, 1995, 2000)

Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji

3 (2008, 2013, 2017)

Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea

1 (1988)

Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga

1 (2017)

Title win rate

TeamWin rate
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 75.00%
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 33.33%
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 6.67%

Biggest wins

Biggest margin of victory [22]
RankWinnerScoreLoserPointsYear
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 110–4Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 106 2000
2Flag of England.svg  England 94–4Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 90 2021
3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 84–0Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 84 2021
4Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 92–10Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 82 2021
5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 86–6Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 80 1995

Individual records

Most appearances

All-time top player appearances [23]
RankPlayerCountry(s)YearsApps
1 Cameron Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2008–201717
2 Chris Hill [24] Flag of England.svg  England 2013–202216
3 Bob Fulton Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1968–197515

Top try scorers

All-time top try scorers [23]
RankPlayerCountry(s)YearsTries
1 Billy Slater Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2008–201716
2 Jarryd Hayne Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
2008–201714
Ryan Hall [25] Flag of England.svg  England 2013–2022
Valentine Holmes [26] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2017–2022
5 Bob Fulton Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1968–197513

Top points scorers

All-time top point scorers [23]
RankPlayerCountry(s)YearsPoints
1 Johnathan Thurston Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2008–2013124
2 Shaun Johnson Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2013–2017120
3 Mick Cronin Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1975–1977108
Michael O'Connor Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1986–1990
5 George Fairbairn Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
Flag of England.svg  England
1975–197792

Most tries in a single tournament

Most tries in a match

Most points in a single tournament

Most points in a match

Miscellaneous

Winning captains and coaches

A foreign coach has never managed a World Cup-winning team.

YearCaptainCoachTeam
1954 Flag of Scotland.svg Dave Valentine Flag of England.svg G ShawFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1957 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Poole Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dick Poole Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1960 Flag of England.svg Eric Ashton Flag of England.svg William Fallowfield Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1968 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Johnny Raper Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry Bath Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1970 Ron Coote Harry Bath Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1972 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Clive Sullivan Flag of England.svg Jim Challinor Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
1975 Arthur Beetson Graeme Langlands Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1977 Arthur Beetson Terry Fearnley Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1988 Wally Lewis Don Furner Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1992 Mal Meninga Bob Fulton Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1995 Brad Fittler Bob Fulton Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2000 Brad Fittler Chris Anderson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2008 Nathan Cayless Stephen Kearney Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2013 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cameron Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Sheens Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2017 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cameron Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mal Meninga Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia

Attendance Records

The 2013 Rugby League World Cup final at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, drew a world record international rugby league attendance of 74,468. [30]

Top 5 match attendances

YearVenueCity/CountryEventResultAttendance
2013 Old Trafford Manchester, England Final Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 34–274,468
1989–92 Wembley Stadium (1923) London, England Final Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 10–673,631
2013 Wembley Stadium London, England Semi Final (double header)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 64–0
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand def. Flag of England.svg  England 20–18
67,575
1995 Wembley Stadium (1923) London, England Final Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of England.svg  England 16–866,540
1968 Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, Australia Group stage Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 25–1062,256

Top 5 World Cup final attendances

YearVenueCity/CountryResultAttendance
2013 Old Trafford Manchester, England Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 34–274,468
1992 Wembley Stadium (1923) London, England Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 10–673,631
1995 Wembley Stadium (1923) London, England Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of England.svg  England 16–866,540
1968 Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney, Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of France.svg  France 20–254,290
2008 Suncorp Stadium Brisbane, Australia Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand def. Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 34–2050,599

Highest Attendance per Host Nation

CountryYearVenueCityEventResultAttendance
England 2013 Old Trafford Manchester Final Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 34–274,468
Australia 1968 Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Group stage Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 25–1062,256
New Zealand 1988 Eden Park Auckland Final Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 25–1247,363
Wales 2013 Millennium Stadium Cardiff Group stage (double header)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of England.svg  England 28–20
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy def. Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 32–16
45,052
France 1954 Stadium de Toulouse Toulouse Group stage Flag of France.svg  France drew with Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 13–1337,471
Papua New Guinea 1986 Lloyd Robson Oval Port Moresby Group stage Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 62–1217,000
Ireland 2013 Thomond Park Limerick Group stage Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia def. Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 50–05,021
Northern Ireland 2000 Windsor Park Belfast Group stage Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland def. Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 30–163,207
Scotland 2000 Firhill Stadium Glasgow Group stage Tino Rangatiratanga Maori sovereignty movement flag.svg  Aotearoa Māori def. Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 17–162,008

See also

Notes

  1. Aotearoa Māori weren't a national team, but a representative side made up of players with Māori heritage.

References

  1. "Australia: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  2. "Cook Islands: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  3. "England: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  4. "Fiji: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  5. "France: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  6. "Great Britain: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  7. "Greece: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  8. "Ireland: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  9. "Italy: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  10. "Jamaica: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  11. "Lebanon: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  12. "New Zealand: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  13. "New Zealand Maori: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  14. "Papua New Guinea: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  15. "Russia: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  16. "Samoa: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  17. "Scotland: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  18. "South Africa: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  19. "Tonga: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  20. "United States of America: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  21. "Wales: Results: World Cup". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  22. "World Cup - Records". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Historical Record Park: Men's Tournament" (PDF). Rugby League Records. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  24. "Rugby League World Cup: England v Samoa - team news, key stats and preview". BBC Sport. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  25. "Ryan Hall and Luke Thompson to miss out on England's quarter-final clash". Love Rugby League. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  26. "Custom Match List". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Blistering Valentine Holmes hits Fiji for six in Australian demolition job". The Guardian. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  28. "Australia into Rugby League World Cup final after epic battle with New Zealand". The Guardian. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  29. "Girdler's high kicks". BBC Sport. 5 November 2000. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  30. Fletcher, Paul (30 November 2013). "Rugby League World Cup 2013: New Zealand 2–34 Australia". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 December 2013.