Six UNWANTED Rugby World Cup records including the worst win rate in finals

The Rugby World Cup is on our doorstep and begins in less than a month’s time. The global showpiece that is only played every four years is often filled with glory and joy but there, of course, is the other end of the spectrum.

Ahead of the tournament, Planet Rugby takes a look at the records that nobody wants their name next to as we bring you the World Cup’s unwanted records.

Most points conceded in a single match

For the first unwanted record, we travel back in time to 1995 when Japan were only establishing themselves as a rugby nation. Unfortunately for the Brave Blossoms, they came up against the Marc Ellis-inspired All Blacks and it’s safe to say it did not end well.

The final score ended at 145-17 in favour of New Zealand who would fall short of the title in the final.

Runners-up: Namibia are next in line as the hosts of the 2003 World Cup, Australia, dismantled the African side 142-0. Uruguay round out the top three with a 111-13 loss to England in the same year.

Biggest losing margin

Another painful category to take the lead on but this time it’s the aforementioned Namibia who suffered the biggest losing margin. It is the same game in 2003 against Eddie Jones’ Wallabies where the side ran riot 142-0.

Runners-up: Japan’s 145-17 loss switches to second for this category meanwhile the All Blacks inflicted a 101-3 rout over Italy in 1999 to complete the top three.

Most tries conceded

Unfortunately, the Namibians are taking the lead again and it is the same infamous loss in 2003 that has them ahead in this category as they conceded a whopping 22 tries in the Test.

Runners-up: Japan conceded 21 in their 1995 loss whilst Uruguay conceded 17 against England.

Worst win % in finals

This year’s hosts France lead the way in what could be the most painful of all the categories. Les Bleus have a 0% win rate in the Rugby World Cup finals after losing three in 1987, 1999 and 2011. They will be desperate to right this record in 2023.

Runners-up: England have the second-worst win rate at 25%, winning only one of four finals, whilst the Wallabies come in at 50% with two wins from four.

Most losing appearances

This category is one of the more personal on our list and is loaded with Namibians, Canadians and Romanians.

Eugene Jantjies of Namibia lost 14 Rugby World Cup Tests on the bounce between 2007 and 2019.

Runners-up: Not far behind Jantjies is Ovidiu Tonita of Romania and DTH van der Merwe of Canada with 12 losses in a row.

Most red cards by country

No player has received more than one red card in Rugby World Cups but there certainly has been more than one from a single country. Canada leads the way with four red cards with two coming from the infamous match against the Springboks in 1995, one from 1999 and another from 2019.

Runners-up: Samoa and Tonga are just behind on three apiece whilst Argentina, South Africa, Uruguay and Wales all have two at the global showpiece.

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