Ivory Coast at the Rugby World Cup

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Map of nations' best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments. Rugby world cup countries best results and hosts rev1.png
Map of nations' best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments.

The Ivory Coast's only Rugby World Cup appearance was in 1995 when they were placed in Pool D with France, Scotland, and Tonga.

Contents

Their appearance in the 1995 Rugby World Cup was fairly notorious and controversial. In the opening game against Scotland, the Ivory Coast lost by 89 points to nil, a result which led many to question the inclusion of "minor" teams in the tournament. Worse still, three minutes into the third match, against Tonga, their winger Max Brito was crushed beneath several other players. Despite intensive care, Brito was left paralyzed below the neck. [1] He had caught a high ball that had been kicked up the field, and set off on a counter-attack. [2] He was tackled by Inoke Afeaki, the Tonga flanker, before a ruck formed over him. The ruck collapsed and several players fell on top of Brito, leaving him prone and motionless on the ground. [3] Brito was taken to the intensive care unit of the Unitas Hospital in Pretoria with broken vertebrae. [4] Operations were carried out to stabilize the fourth and fifth vertebrae, but Brito was left paralyzed below the neck.

In a 2007 interview, Brito was portrayed as living an unhappy life. He was quoted as saying that

...It is now 12 years since I have been in this state. I have come to the end of my tether... If one day I fall seriously ill, and if I have the strength and courage to take my own life, then I will do it...This bloody handicap - it's my curse. It kills me and I will never accept it. I can't live with it and it's going to be with me for the rest of my life." [3]

Brito's injury raised concerns about the presence of such teams in a rugby union environment on the brink of professionalisation. [2]

By position

Rugby World Cup Qualification
YearRoundPldWDLPFPASquadPosPldWDLPFPA
Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1987 Not InvitedNo qualifying tournament held
Flag of England.svg Flag of France.svg IRFU flag.svg Flag of Scotland.svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1991 Did not qualify4th30032045
Flag of South Africa.svg 1995 Pool Stage300329172 Squad 1st54018358
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1999 Did not qualify4th30031660
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2003 3rd20022936
Flag of France.svg 2007 2nd631211064
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2011
Flag of England.svg 2015
Flag of Japan.svg 2019
TotalPool Stage300329172
 Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth placeHome venue

Overall record

　CountryPldWDLFA+/-%
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 1--11129-180
Flag of France.svg  France 1--11854-360
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1--1089-890
TOTAL3--329172-1430

1995 Rugby World Cup

Pool D matches -

Team
PldWDLPFPAPDPts
Flag of France.svg  France 330011447+679
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 320114927+1227
Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 31024490−465
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 300329172−1433
Source: [ citation needed ]
26 May 1995
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg0 – 89Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Tries: G. Hastings (4), Logan (2), Walton (2), Wright, Chalmers, Stanger, Burnell, Shiel
Con: G. Hastings (9)
Pen: G. Hastings (2)
Olympia Park, Rustenburg
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Felise Vito (Western Samoa)
30 May 1995
France  Flag of France.svg54 – 18Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Tries: Lacroix (2), Benazzi, Téchoueyres, Viars, Accoceberry, Saint-André, Costes
Con: Deylaud (2), Lacroix (2)
Pen: Lacroix (2)		Tries: Soulama, Camara
Con: Kouassi
Pen: Kouassi (2)
Olympia Park, Rustenburg
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Han Moon-Soo (South Korea)
3 June 1995
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg11 – 29Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
Tries: Okou
Pen: Dali (2)		Tries: 'Otai, Tu'ipulotu, Latukefu
Con: Tu'ipulotu (3)
Pen: Tu'ipulotu
Olympia Park, Rustenburg
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Don Reordan (United States)
  • Côte d'Ivoire player Max Brito was left a quadriplegic after suffering a cervical spine injury in this match.

Team Records

Highest Team Score
Biggest Score Against
Worst Losing Margin

Individual Records

Most Points
Most Points in a Game
Most Tries
Most Drop Goals

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References

  1. ↑ Pirate Irwin (4 October 2007). "Max Brito at end of tether after 12-year struggle". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 Rugby World Cup History – The Plight of Max Brito Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine Talking Rugby Union. 29-08-11. Accessed 20-09-11
  3. 1 2 "Max Brito at end of tether after 12-year struggle". Mail & Guardian (South Africa). 2007-10-04.
  4. ↑ L’Historique du Biscarrosse Olympique Rugby Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine Biscarrosse Rugby. Accessed 19-09-11
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