Did you know?

* The first World Cup was held in 1987 in Australia and New Zealand.

* The first winner of the World Cup was New Zealand in 1987.

* The first World Cup to be held in a single country was the 1995 World Cup hosted by South Africa.

* The first non-southern hemisphere country to win the world cup was England in 2003.

* Australia is the only nation to have won the Rugby World Cup twice.

* The 2003 Rugby World Cup had a global cumulative audience of 3.5 billion, and was broadcast in 205 countries around the world.

* The most points that have ever been scored against a team at a World Cup is 145 by New Zealand in a match against Japan in 1995. New Zealand scored 21 tries in that match.

* The widest winning margin in a World Cup match is 142, achieved by Australia against Namibia in 2003.

* England prop Jason Leonard made a record 22 appearances, and featured in four World Cups from 1991 to 2003.

Rugby World Cup Records

Top points scorers

227 - Gavin Hastings (Scotland), 195 - Michael Lynagh (Australia), 182 - Jonny Wilkinson (England), 170 - Grant Fox (New Zealand), 163 - Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand), 135 - Gonzalo Quesada (Argentina), 125 - Matt Burke (Australia), 124 - Thierry Lacroix (France), 120 - Gareth Rees (Canada), 103 - Frederic Michalak (France).

Top try scorers

15 - Jonah Lomu (New Zealand), 11 - Rory Underwood (England), 10 - David Campese (Australia) and Brian Lima (Samoa).

Most appearances

23 - Jason Leonard (England); 18 - Martin Johnson (England), Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand) and Richard Loe (New Zealand); 17 - Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa); 16 - Abdel Benazi (France), Fabien Galthie (France), Brian Lima (Samoa), Michael Lynagh (Australia), George Gregan (Australia), Rob Andrew (England), Brian Moore (England), Rory Underwood (England).

Most drop-goals

8 - Jonny Wilkinson (England), 6 - Jannie De Beer (South Africa), 5 - Rob Andrew (England) and Gareth Rees (Canada).

Most penalties

39 - Jonny Wilkinson (England), 36 - Gavin Hastings (Scotland), 35 - Gonzalo Quesada (Argentina).

Most conversions

39 - Gavin Hastings (Scotland), 37 - Grant Fox (New Zealand), 36 - Michael Lynagh (Australia).

Biggest victory

Australia 142 Namibia 0 (2003 World Cup).
Most individual points in one game.
45 - Simon Culhane (New Zealand v Japan, 1995 World Cup).

Average points per game

New Zealand 44.6, England 34.2, Australia 34, France 33.4, South Africa 32.7, Scotland 32.1, Ireland 29, Samoa 26.6, Wales 24.9, Argentina 24.1.