Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup

Uruguay has competed in five Rugby World Cup tournaments: 1999, 2003, 2015, 2019, and 2023.

A huge success for them was qualifying for the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales. They won their pool fixture against Spain, finishing third in their pool.

They qualified for the World Cup again in 2003, and won their pool fixture against Georgia, 24–12.

Uruguay's qualification for the 2007 World Cup started in Americas Round 3a, where they were pooled with Argentina and Chile. After losing their first match 26 points to nil to Argentina, they defeated Chile 43–15 in Montevideo, which saw them enter Round 4, where they faced the USA. Uruguay lost on aggregate, and moved on to the repechage round as Americas 4. They played Portugal over two legs - losing the first in Lisbon and winning the second in Montevideo. Portugal qualified on aggregate points. They again failed to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup final tournament.

Uruguay qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. They did not win any games during the tournament.

Map of countries' best results

Uruguay qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and won their opening game against Fiji 30–27. ^[1]

Nation	Number of appearances	First appearance	Most recent appearance	Streak	Best result
Uruguay	5	1999	2023	2	One win (1999, 2003, 2019, 2023)

By position

Rugby World Cup record											Qualification
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	Squad	Head coach		Pos	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA
1987	Not invited										Not invited
1991	Did not enter										Did not enter
1995	Did not qualify										2nd	3	2	0	1	91	28
1999	Pool Stage	3	1	0	2	42	97	Squad	D. Herrera		P/O	9	5	0	4	209	188
2003	Pool Stage	4	1	0	3	56	255	Squad	D. Ormaechea		2nd	6	3	0	3	115	144
2007	Did not qualify										P/O	6	2	0	4	86	140
2011											P/O	7	3	1	3	249	106
2015	Pool Stage	4	0	0	4	30	226	Squad	P. Lemoine		P/O	9	6	1	2	260	168
2019	Pool Stage	4	1	0	3	60	140	Squad	E. Meneses		P/O	8	8	0	0	318	160
2023	Pool Stage	4	1	0	3	65	164	Squad			P/O	4	3	0	1	101	57
2027	To be determined										To be determined
2031
Total	—	19	4	0	15	253	882	—	—		—	52	32	2	18	1429	991
Champions   Runners–up   Third place   Fourth place   Home venue

1999 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
South Africa	3	3	0	0	132	35	+97	9
Scotland	3	2	0	1	120	58	+62	7
Uruguay	3	1	0	2	42	97	−55	5
Spain	3	0	0	3	18	122	−104	3

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

2 October 1999

Uruguay	27–15	Spain
Try: Ormaechea Cardoso Menchaca Con: Aguirre Sciarra Pen: Aguirre		Pen: Kovalenco (5)

Netherdale, Galashiels Referee: Chris White (England)

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8 October 1999

Scotland	43–12	Uruguay
Try: Russell Armstrong Metcalfe Leslie Simpson Townsend Con: Logan (5) Pen: Logan		Pen: Aguirre (3) Sciarra

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

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15 October 1999

South Africa	39–3	Uruguay
Try: Van den Bergh (2) Van der Westhuizen Kayser Fleck Con: De Beer (4) Pen: De Beer (2)		Pen: Aguirre

Hampden Park, Glasgow Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

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2003 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts	Qualification
England	4	4	0	0	255	47	+208	3	19	Quarter-finals
South Africa	4	3	0	1	184	60	+124	3	15
Samoa	4	2	0	2	138	117	+21	2	10
Uruguay	4	1	0	3	56	255	−199	0	4
Georgia	4	0	0	4	46	200	−154	0	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

11 October 2003

South Africa	72–6	Uruguay
Try: Van der Westhuizen (3) Van Niekerk Botha Delport Fourie Bands Rossouw Scholtz Greef Con: Koen (5) Hougaard		Pen: Aguirre (2)

Subiaco Oval, Perth Attendance: 16,906 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

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15 October 2003

Samoa	60–13	Uruguay
Try: Fa'asavalu (2) Lima (2) Tagicakibau Fa'atau Lemalu Vili Fe'aunati Palepoi Con: Va'a (3) Vili (2)		Try: Capó Lemoine Pen: Aguirre

Subiaco Oval, Perth Attendance: 22,020 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

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28 October 2003

Georgia	12–24	Uruguay
Pen: Urjukashvili Kvirikashvili (3)		Try: Cardoso Lamelas Brignoni Con: Aguirre (2) Menchaca Pen: Juan Menchaca

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 28,576 Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)

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2 November 2003

England	111–13	Uruguay
Try: Moody Lewsey (5) Balshaw (2) Catt (2) Gomarsall (2) Luger Abbott Robinson (2) Greenwood Con: Grayson (11) Catt (2)		Try: Lemoine Con: Menchaca Pen: Menchaca (2)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 46,233 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

2007 Rugby World Cup

Did not qualify.

2011 Rugby World Cup

Did not qualify.

2015 Rugby World Cup

During 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying, Uruguay won the 2013 South American Rugby Championship "A", getting wins at the Estadio Charrúa against Brazil (58–7) and Chile (23–9). In March 2014, Uruguay faced the United States in a NACRA-CONSUR playoff for the last Americas qualification spot. Uruguay tied the home leg 27–27, but lost the away leg 32–13. Uruguay then moved to the repechage, where it defeated Hong Kong 28–3 at the Estadio Charrúa, to face Russia for the 20th and final spot at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Uruguay qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup by defeating Russia by an aggregate score of 57–49 in the two-game series, winning the second game at home 36–27 in front of 14,000 fans at the Charrua Stadium. ^[2]

Uruguay played in Pool A. ^[3] The pool was composed of hosts England, as well as the third- and fourth-placed teams from 2011, Australia and Wales. They were joined by one qualifier, Fiji. The group has been called the "group of death". Uruguay lost all their pool matches without any bonus points.

20 September 2015 14:30

Wales	54–9	Uruguay
Try: Lee 15' c Allen (3) 19' c, 30' c, 40' c Amos 50' c Davies (2) 60' m, 80' c Tipuric 71' c Con: Priestland (7/8) 16', 19', 30', 40', 51', 72', 80'	Report	Pen: Berchesi (3/4) 2', 9', 24'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 71,887 Referee: Romain Poite (France)

27 September 2015 12:00

Australia	65–3	Uruguay
Try: McMahon (2) 7' m, 69' m Tomane 9' c Mumm 26' m Speight 31' c McCalman (2) 36' c, 61' c Mitchell (2) 47' m, 52' m To'omua 71' m Kuridrani 80' c Con: Cooper (5/11) 10', 32', 36', 62', 80'	Report	Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 24'

Villa Park, Birmingham Attendance: 39,605 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

6 October 2015 20:00

Fiji	47–15	Uruguay
Try: Penalty try (2) 3' c, 27' c Kenatale 8' m Nakarawa 38' c Cavubati 64' c Murimurivalu 66' c Nadolo 79' c Con: Nadolo (6/7) 3', 28', 39', 65', 66', 80	Report	Try: Arboleya 17' c Ormaechea 58' m Con: Ormaechea (1/2) 18' Pen: Durán (1/1) 15'

Stadium mk, Milton Keynes Attendance: 30,048 Referee: JP Doyle (England)

10 October 2015 20:00

England	60–3	Uruguay
Try: Watson (2) 7' c, 42' m Easter (3) 18' c, 23' c, 60' m Slade 54' m Nowell (3) 57' c, 70' m, 74' m Penalty try 80' c Con: Farrell (4/6) 8', 19', 25', 58' Ford (1/4) 80'	Report	Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 2'

City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester Attendance: 50,778 Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia	4	4	0	0	141	35	+106	17	1	17	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2	Wales	4	3	0	1	111	62	+49	11	1	13
3	England	4	2	0	2	133	75	+58	16	3	11	Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4	Fiji	4	1	0	3	84	101	−17	10	1	5
5	Uruguay	4	0	0	4	30	226	−196	2	0	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

2019 Rugby World Cup

Uruguay qualified by beating Canada over two legs. Uruguay play in Pool D. They are joined by Australia, Wales, Georgia and Fiji. Uruguay won their first match of the pool, which was 30–27 against Fiji.

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Wales	4	4	0	0	136	69	+67	17	3	19	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2	Australia	4	3	0	1	136	68	+68	20	4	16
3	Fiji	4	1	0	3	110	108	+2	17	3	7	Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4	Georgia	4	1	0	3	65	122	−57	9	1	5
5	Uruguay	4	1	0	3	60	140	−80	6	0	4

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

25 September 2019 14:15 JST (UTC+09)

(2 BP) Fiji	27–30	Uruguay
Try: Dolokoto 8' m Mawi 19' c Ratuniyarawa 48' m Matawalu (2) 67' m, 80+1' m Con: J. Matavesi (1/3) 20'	Report	Try: Arata 14' c Diana 22' c Cat 26' c Con: Berchesi (3/3) 15', 23', 28' Pen: Berchesi (3/4) 38', 61', 76'

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Kamaishi Attendance: 14,025 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

29 September 2019 14:15 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Georgia	33–7	Uruguay
Try: Todua 9' m Giorgadze 30' c Chilachava 43' c Bregvadze 52' c Kveseladze 58' c Con: Abzhandadze (4/5) 30', 44', 53', 59'	Report	Try: Vilaseca 33' c Con: Berchesi (1/1) 34'

Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya Attendance: 24,895 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

5 October 2019 14:15 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Australia	45–10	Uruguay
Try: Haylett-Petty (2) 6' c, 68' m Petaia 24' c Kuridrani (2) 31' m, 46' c Genia 53' c Slipper 61' c Con: Lealiifano (5/7) 7', 25', 48', 55', 63'	Report	Try: Diana 79' c Con: Berchesi (1/1) 79' Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 13'

Oita Stadium, Ōita Attendance: 33,781 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

13 October 2019 17:15 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Wales	35–13	Uruguay
Try: Smith 17' c Adams 49' c Penalty try 66' T. Williams 74' c G. Davies 80+5' c Con: Halfpenny (4/4) 18', 50', 75', 80+6'	Report	Try: Kessler 71' c Con: Berchesi (1/1) 72' Pen: Berchesi (2/2) 22', 39'

Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto Attendance: 27,317 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

2023 Rugby World Cup

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	B	Pts	Qualification
1	France (H)	4	4	0	0	210	32	+178	27	5	2	18	Advance to knockout stage, and qualification to the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup
2	New Zealand	4	3	0	1	253	47	+206	38	4	3	15
3	Italy	4	2	0	2	114	181	−67	15	25	2	10	Qualification to the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup
4	Uruguay	4	1	0	3	65	164	−99	9	21	1	5
5	Namibia	4	0	0	4	37	255	−218	3	37	0	0

Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers
(H) Host

14 September 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2)

France	27–12	Uruguay
Try: Hastoy 10' c Mauvaka 55' c Bielle-Biarrey 74' c Con: Jaminet (3/3) 11', 56', 75' Pen: Jaminet (2/3) 3', 14'	Report	Try: Freitas 6' m Amaya 53' c Con: Etcheverry (1/2) 54'

Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq Attendance: 48,821 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) [4]

20 September 2023 17:45 CEST (UTC+2)

(1 BP) Italy	38–17	Uruguay
Try: Pani 7' c Lamaro 46' c Ioane 52' c L. Cannone 56' c Brex 61' c Con: Allan (5/5) 8', 47', 53', 57', 62' Pen: P. Garbisi (1/1) 70'	Report	Try: Penalty try 27' Freitas 37' c Con: Etcheverry (1/1) 38' Drop: Etcheverry (1/1) 42'

Stade de Nice, Nice Attendance: 28,627 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) [4]

27 September 2023 17:45 CEST (UTC+2)

(1 BP) Uruguay	36–26	Namibia
Try: Amaya (2) 19' m, 49' c Kessler 28' c Arata 54' c Basso 66' c Con: Etcheverry (3/4) 29', 51', 55' Berchesi (1/1) 67' Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 74'	Report	Try: Mouton 1' c Greyling 11' c Con: Swanepoel (2/2) 2', 12' Pen: Swanepoel (4/4) 25', 35', 43', 69'

Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu Attendance: 49,342 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) [4]

5 October 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2)

(1 BP) New Zealand	73–0	Uruguay
Try: McKenzie (2) 20' c, 53' c Mo'unga 25' c Jordan (2) 33' c, 65' c Roigard 38' m Newell 45' m Fainga'anuku (3) 49' c, 68' c, 77' c Williams 73' c Con: Mo'unga (5/7) 21', 26', 34', 50', 54' McKenzie (2/2) 66', 69' B. Barrett (2/2) 74', 78'	Report

Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu Attendance: 57,672 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) [4]

Overall record

Uruguay vs	Played	Win	Draw	Lost	Win %
Australia	2	0	0	2	0%
England	2	0	0	2	0%
Fiji	2	1	0	1	50%
France	1	0	0	1	0%
Georgia	2	1	0	1	50%
Italy	1	0	0	1	0%
Namibia	1	1	0	0	100%
New Zealand	1	0	0	1	0%
Samoa	1	0	0	1	0%
Scotland	1	0	0	1	0%
Spain	1	1	0	0	100%
South Africa	2	0	0	2	0%
Wales	2	0	0	2	0%
Overall	19	4	0	15	21.05%

Team records

Most points in a tournament

• 65 (2023 in   France)
• 60 (2019 in   Japan)
• 56 (2003 in   Australia)

Most points in a game

• 36 vs   Namibia (2023)
• 30 vs   Fiji (2019)
• 27 vs   Spain (1999)

Biggest winning margin

• 12 vs   Spain (1999)
• 12 Vs   Georgia (2003)
• 10 vs   Namibia (2023)

Highest score against

• 111 vs   England (2003)
• 73 vs   New Zealand (2023)
• 72 vs   South Africa (2003)

Biggest losing margin

• 98 vs   England (2003)
• 73 vs   New Zealand (2023)
• 66 vs   South Africa (2003)

Most tries in a tournament

• 9 (2023 in   France)
• 6 (2019 in   Japan)
• 6 (2003 in   Australia)

Most tries in a game

• 5 vs   Namibia (2023)
• 3 vs   Spain (1999)
• 3 vs   Georgia (2003)
• 3 vs   Fiji (2019)

Individual records

Most appearances

• 12 Agustín Ormaechea (  England 2015,   Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 12 Andrés Vilaseca (  England 2015,   Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 11 Felipe Berchesi (  England 2015,   Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 11 Mateo Sanguinetti (  England 2015,   Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 10 German Kessler (  England 2015,   Japan 2019,   France 2023)

Most appearances as Captain

• 5 Andrés Vilaseca (  Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 4 Diego Aguirre (  Australia 2003)
• 4 Santiago Vilaseca (  England 2015)

Most points overall

• 55 Felipe Berchesi (  England 2015,  Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 30 Diego Aguirre (  Wales 1999,   Australia 2003)
• 18 Juan Menchaca (  Wales 1999,   Australia 2003)
• 15 Baltazar Amaya (  France 2023)
• 13 Felipe Etcheverry (  Japan 2019,   France 2023)

Most points in a game

• 15 vs   Fiji - Felipe Berchesi (  Japan 2019)
• 10 vs   Namibia - Baltazar Amaya (  France 2023)
• 9 vs   Scotland - Diego Aguirre (  Wales 1999)
• 9 vs   Wales - Felipe Berchesi (  England 2015)
• 8 vs   England - Juan Menchaca (  Australia 2003)
• 8 vs   Wales - Felipe Berchesi (  Japan 2019)

Most tries overall

• 3 Baltazar Amaya (  France 2023)
• 2 Pablo Lemoine (  Wales 1999,   Australia 2003)
• 2 Alfonso Cardoso (  Wales 1999,   Australia 2003)
• 2 Santiago Arata (  Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 2 Manuel Diana (  Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 2 Nicolas Freitas (  Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 2 German Kessler (  Japan 2019,   France 2023)

Most penalty goals

• 12 Felipe Berchesi (  England 2015,  Japan 2019,   France 2023)
• 8 Diego Aguirre (  Wales 1999,   Australia 2003)
• 3 Juan Menchaca (  Wales 1999,   Australia 2003)

References

1. "Rugby World Cup: Fiji on brink of exit after Uruguay pull off stunning 30-27 win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
2. "Uruguay qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015". IRB.com. 11 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014.
3. "World Cup 2015 schedule". BBC Sport. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
4. "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.

• Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN   1860746020.
• Farr-Jones, Nick (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup. Australian Post Corporation. ISBN   0-642-36811-2.