As the start of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup looms large, bc takes a stroll down memory lane to the seven previous editions of the Cup for a feel of the historical stage Hong Kong are about to grace.
Hong Kong will become the 19th nation to grace the showpiece of the women’s game, while only defending champions England, USA, France and Canada can lay claim to being part of every edition.
Ireland 2017 will be the eighth chapter in a Women’s Rugby World Cup story that began in Wales in April 1991 when USA were crowned the inaugural champions after defeating England 19-6 defeat in the final.
The 2014 Cup was broadcast to a record 167 countries and the 2017 tournament is expected to have an even greater reach and be the most competitive tournament to date.
Women’s Rugby World Cup 1991
Twelve teams took part in the inaugural tournament. Hosts Wales, Canada, England, France, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, USA and the USSR with the teams split into four pools of three.
England, France, New Zealand and USA progressed to the semi-finals, but it was there that the challenges of Les Bleues and the Black Ferns ended.
England led 6-3 at the break in the final at Cardiff Arms Park after Gill Burns converted a penalty try, but nothing could stop USA from claiming the country’s first – and last – major trophy since the men’s team
won Olympic gold in 1924, as they reeled off 16 points without reply.
Host nation: Wales
Dates: 6-14 April, 1991
Pool 1 – New Zealand, Canada, Wales
Pool 2 – France, Sweden, Japan
Pool 3 – USA, Netherlands, USSR
Pool 4 – England, Spain, Italy
Semi-finals
New Zealand 0-7 USA
England 13-0 France
Final
USA 19-6 England
Women’s Rugby World Cup 1994
To avoid clashing with the men’s Rugby World Cup as the inaugural tournament had done in 1991, the second edition of the women’s event came just three years later in Edinburgh with Kazakhstan, Ireland and hosts Scotland making their debuts.
Amsterdam had been due to host, but when the Dutch pulled out Scotland stepped in with just three months to go and even fielded a Scottish Students side to compensate for Spain’s withdrawal and keep the 12-team line-up.
It was evident from early on that the 1991 finalists were again the teams to beat as USA and England duly cruised to another title decider. This time, however, England exacted revenge in a hugely entertaining contest, winning 38-23 with flanker Gill Burns, centre Jacquie Edwards and full-back Jane Mitchell scoring tries and captain Karen Almond kicking 13 points
Host nation: Scotland
Dates: 11-24 April, 1994
Pool A – USA, Sweden, Japan
Pool B – England, Scotland, Russia
Pool C – France, Ireland, Scottish Students
Pool D – Canada, Wales, Kazakhstan
Semi-finals
USA 56-15 Wales
England 18-6 France
Final
England 38-23 USA
Women’s Rugby World Cup 1998
Four years after originally intended, Amsterdam did host a 16-team tournament which saw first appearances for Germany and Australia and the returns of New Zealand and Spain after missing the 1994 event.
New Zealand, led by their inspirational hooker Farah Palmer, quickly emerged as the biggest threat to previous winners USA and England as the trio were joined in the last four by Canada.
Defending champions England had been ruthless in the pool stages, as had the Black Ferns with a record 134-6 defeat of Germany, to produce the semi-final everyone wanted to see. It was a one-sided affair, though, with the 44-11 win a sign of the domination New Zealand were beginning.
USA swept aside Canada equally impressively in the other semi-final but had no answer in the title decider, Vanessa Cootes scoring four of New Zealand’s eight tries in a 44-12 victory to ensure a third champion in as many tournaments.
Host nation: Netherlands
Dates: 1-16 May, 1998
Pool A – England, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden
Pool B – USA, Spain, Wales, Russia
Pool C – New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Germany
Pool D – France, Australia, Kazakhstan, Ireland
Semi-finals
USA 46-6 Canada
England 11-44 New Zealand
Final
New Zealand 44-12 USA
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2002
Spain were the next hosts of a tournament that would set new standards of excellence in terms of skill and fitness. Samoa enjoyed a dream debut with a 22-0 win over Ireland, but England and New Zealand appeared destined for the final.
The Olympic Stadium in Barcelona provided a fitting backdrop for a final screened live in the middle of the night in New Zealand. The 8,000 crowd in the stands were treated to a blend of tactical awareness, gritty forward play and attacking rugby as the Black Ferns successfully defended their crown with a 19-9 victory, Monique Hirovanaa and Cheryl Waaka scoring the tries in the title decider.
Host nation: Spain
Dates: 12-26 May, 2002
Pool A – New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Germany
Pool B – France, USA, Kazakhstan, Netherlands
Pool C – England, Spain, Italy, Japan
Pool D – Canada, Scotland, Samoa, Ireland
Semi-finals
New Zealand 30-0 France
Canada 10-53 England
Final
England 9-19 New Zealand
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2006
WRWC 2006 broke new ground as the first tournament held outside of Europe, South Africa making their debut in Canada as the bar was raised once more by the 12 teams. It was the usual suspects in the semi-finals, though, with France and Canada unable to prevent another New Zealand-England final.
New Zealand’s backs had taken women’s rugby onto a new level with the triumvirate of Amiria Marsh, Stephanie Mortimer and Claire Richardson in particular impressive throughout. The final was another close affair, only settled when Marsh scored in the dying minutes for a 25-17 win to give Black Ferns captain Palmer the perfect send-off.
Host nation: Canada
Dates: 31 August-17 September, 2006
Pool A – New Zealand, Spain, Kazakhstan
Pool B – England, Australia, Ireland
Pool C – France, USA, South Africa
Pool D – Canada, Scotland, Samoa
Semi-finals
New Zealand 40-10 France
Canada 6-10 England
Final
England 17-25 New Zealand
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010
England welcomed the world in 2010 and invested heavily in preparations, hoping to avoid a third successive final loss to New Zealand. There were some upsets along the way with Ireland beating USA and South Africa edging Wales, while Australia made the semi-finals for the first time.
The final, played before a packed Twickenham Stoop, was a nail-biting affair and one that went right down to the wire. New Zealand had three yellow cards, but with one converted try apiece it was Kelly Brazier’s penalty that proved the difference and secured a fourth successive crown.
Host nation: England
Dates: 20 August to 5 September, 2010
Pool A – New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Wales
Pool B – England, Ireland, USA, Kazakhstan
Pool C – France, Canada, Scotland, Sweden
Semi-finals
New Zealand 45-7 France
England 15-0 Australia
Final
New Zealand 13-10 England
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014
The last edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup was played in the French capital and saw one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history as Ireland ended New Zealand’s 20-match unbeaten run on the WRWC stage with a 17-14 victory, one which meant the Black Ferns missed out on the semi-finals for the first time.
Ireland joined hosts France, England and Canada in the semi-finals with a first-time finalist guaranteed. Canada became only the fourth side to reach the final after a wonder try from Magali Harvey against hosts France, but it was England who were crowned champions, 20 years on from their last triumph, after a 21-9 win. Full-back Danielle Waterman scored the opening try with Emily Scarratt kicking three penalties before the centre converted her own try five minutes from time to seal the win.
Host nation: France
Dates: 27 July-19 August, 2014
Pool A – England, Canada, Spain, Samoa
Pool B – Ireland, New Zealand, USA, Kazakhstan
Pool C – France, Australia, Wales, South Africa
Semi-finals
Ireland 7-40 England
France 16-18 Canada
Final
England 21-9 Canada
Additional reporting and images: World Rugby