Rugby World Cup Apparel

Rare Castleford Tigers Rugby League Shirt (kukri Large) Last bid: £6.99	Rare Castleford Tigers Rugby League Shirt (exito Large) Last bid: £7.50
New Zealand Rugby Retro Polo Shirt Home Black Sz Medium Last bid: £15.27	New Zealand Rugby Retro Polo Shirt Home Black Sz Large Last bid: £15.27
New Zealand Rugby Retro Polo Shirt Home Black Sz Xl Last bid: £15.27	New Zealand Rugby Retro Polo Shirt Home Black Sz Xxl Last bid: £15.27
Rare Castleford Tigers Rugby League Shirt (asics Large) Last bid: £10.01	Eat Sleep Rugby Childs White T Shirt Age 3-14yrs Last bid: £7.99
Bnwt London Irish Rugby Home Shirt, England (large) Last bid: £9.99	Rugby World Cup Shirt Team Xl New Zealand 1009 Last bid: £6.10

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.