Rugby World Cup Apparel

Bnwt Ralph Lauren Blue/red Rugby Polo Shirt "small" Last bid: £14.99	S/sleeve "l".kooga Widnes Vikings Rugby/league Shirt Last bid: £3.99	Force Xv Agen Player Issue Rugby Shirt Xl 2nd Skin Last bid: £24.00
Boys T Shirt - Adams - Rugby Style - Age 4 Last bid: £1.50	Scotland Cotton Trader Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt X/large Last bid: £2.99	Scotland Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt Large Last bid: £2.99
Scotland On Tour 2007 Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt Large Last bid: £2.99	Scotland Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt X/large Chak Sports Last bid: £2.99	Scotland On Tour 2007 Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt Med Last bid: £2.99
Scotland Xv Large Boys Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt Last bid: £2.99	Scotland Cotton Traders Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt Med Last bid: £2.99	Ireland Long Sleeved Rugby Shirt Cotton Traders Med Last bid: £3.19

The International Rugby Board (IRB) organise the Rugby World Cup (RWC) every 4 years. The competition is entered by the 89 nations who are affiliated to the IRB and the format until the 2007 competition was the sides reaching the quarter finals from the last RWC were seeded through and all other nations played in regional pools to decide the next level of entrants. There were further opportunities to win through as most areas had 2 entrants and then a repechage 1 and in some instances 2. The format changed to the top 3 teams from each pool are seeded into the next RWC and all other Nations play in their local competitions the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Winning these takes the Nation forward to the World Trophy tournament, this tournament will now produce the other nations entering the RWC pool stages.

Hosts of previous RWC

The RWC was inaugurated in 1987 and the first host's were New Zealand and Australia. Since then it has been hosted by England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France in 1991. South Africa in 1995. Wales with England, France, Ireland and Scotland in 1999. Then Australia in 2003. 2007 it is in France with Scotland and Wales, Ireland pulled out as Lansdowne Road is being developed. The 2011 competition will be held in new Zealand.

Rugby's Previous winners of the World Cup

New Zealand won the first competition and although they have usually been favourites since then they have yet to repeat the feat as they were followed by Australia in 1991, South Africa in 1995, Australia with their second in 1999 and England following extra time in 2003.