Hosts France get the Rugby World Cup under way in Paris on September 8, with New Zealand the opposition for what promises to be a barnstorming encounter.
France will look to make home advantage count, while Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland appear primed to push for success.
However, New Zealand and their fellow southern hemisphere heavyweights Australia and South Africa have previously been the dominant forces at the World Cup.
Indeed, the first game of the 2023 tournament is a re-run of the inaugural final from 1987. Here’s how that game and the eight subsequent finals played out.
MORE: Rugby World Cup 2023 bracket: Draw, results, route to final in France
Rugby World Cup winners and tournament history
| Year | Hosts | Winners | Final score | Runners-up | Bronze medal | Fourth place |
| 1987 | Australia/New Zealand | New Zealand | 29-9 | France | Wales | Australia |
| 1991 | Five Nations countries | Australia | 12-6 | England | New Zealand | Scotland |
| 1995 | South Africa | South Africa | 15-12 (a.e.t.) | New Zealand | France | England |
| 1999 | Wales (plus Five Nations countries | Australia | 35-12 | France | South Africa | New Zealand |
| 2003 | Australia | England | 20-17 (a.e.t.) | Australia | New Zealand | France |
| 2007 | France | South Africa | 15-6 | England | Argentina | France |
| 2011 | New Zealand | New Zealand | 8-7 | France | Australia | Wales |
| 2015 | England | New Zealand | 34-17 | Australia | South Africa | Argentina |
| 2019 | Japan | South Africa | 32-12 | England | New Zealand | Wales |
Who has won the most Rugby World Cup titles
A semifinal defeat to England four years ago thwarted New Zealand's bid for an unprecedented three titles in a row.
The All Blacks remain the only nation to have won back-to-back World Cups, although if South Africa match this achievement in France they will go out in front on the all-time list as four-time winners.
England are the only European nation to win the Rugby World Cup – meaning three-time beaten finalists France are chasing a maiden triumph on home soil.
Despite their current prowess, Ireland have never reached the semifinals in their history, a wrong Andy Farrell's side will be determined to right this time around.
| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third | Fourth |
| New Zealand | 3: 1987, 2011, 2015 | 1: 1995 | 3: 1991, 2003, 2019 | 1: 1999 |
| South Africa | 3: 1995, 2007, 2019 | — | 2: 1999, 2015 | — |
| Australia | 2: 1991, 1999 | 2: 2003, 2015 | 1: 2011 | 1: 1987 |
| England | 1: 2003 | 3: 1991, 2007, 2019 | — | 1: 1995 |
| France | — | 3: 1987, 1999, 2011 | 1: 1995 | 2: 2003, 2007 |
| Wales | — | — | 1: 1987 | 2: 2011, 2019 |
| Argentina | — | — | 1: 2007 | 1: 2015 |
| Scotland | — | — | — | 1: 1991 |
How to watch Rugby World Cup on TV
TV networks worldwide will be showing all 48 matches at the tournament live, including many on free-to-air television.
| Country | TV Channel |
|---|---|
| USA | NBC |
| Canada | TSN |
| United Kingdom | ITVX |
| Australia | Stan |
| New Zealand | Sky GO |
| Singapore | beIN Sports |
| Hong Kong | beIN Sports |
| Malaysia | beIN Sports |
| India | SuperSport |
How to watch Rugby World Cup online
On social platforms alone, video content from the Rugby World Cup and organisers World Rugby drew more than 2.1 billion views in 2019 – almost six times the previous figure.
The tournament also has its own app, delivering highlights, news and more across the seven weeks of action.
| Country | Streaming |
|---|---|
| USA | Peacock |
| Canada | TSN+ |
| United Kingdom | ITVX |
| Australia | Stan |
| New Zealand | Sky GO |
| Singapore | beIN Sports |
| Hong Kong | beIN Sports |
| Malaysia | beIN Sports |
| India | SuperSport |
