With less than 100 days to the start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Last Word on Sports looks back at how the participating nations have fared in the previous seven tournaments from the inaugural in 1987 to the most recent in 2011. Today’s focus is USA, who have appeared at six of the seven previous Rugby World Cups.
Rugby World Cup History: USA
1987
The USA were one of the nine invited nations that joined the seven International Rugby Football Board countries. Drawn in Pool 1 along with IRFB nations England and Australia as well as fellow invitee Japan, the USA faced a tough task to qualify for the quarter finals. The United States got off to a great start defeating Japan 21-18 in their opening match. However the Americans were unable to overcome either Australia or England losing heavily to both, leaving them 3rd in the pool and out of the tournament.
1991
The entry for the 1991 Rugby World Cup was split between the eight quarterfinalists from 1987, who qualified automatically, and eight regional qualifiers. The Americas had three regional places, and with only three competing teams, Argentina, Canada and USA, a round robin event was played to determine seeding as all three teams would advance to the finals. USA finished bottom of the qualifying group, only winning one game, the home leg against Canada, and as such were placed in Pool A with holders New Zealand, hosts England and European qualifier Italy. USA struggled in the pool stage losing their opening game to Italy 30-9. Things only got harder for the Americans from there as they lost 46-6 to New Zealand in their second match. England completed a winless campaign for the USA running out 37-9 winners to leave USA rooted to the bottom of the pool.
1995
The Americas only had two qualifying places for the 1995 World Cup, unlike three in 1991, and one of those was already taken by Canada, who had qualified automatically by reaching the 1991 quarter finals. USA defeated Bermuda 60-3 to earn a home and away tie against Argentina, who won the South America qualification group, to determine the second qualifier. USA lost both legs, 28-22 at home and 16-11 away, meaning they would not advance to the finals in South Africa.
1999
To qualify for the 1999 World Cup, USA would again have to come through a qualifying group with Argentina, Canada and Uruguay. Despite losses to Argentina and Canada in their opening two matches, a 21-16 win over Uruguay was enough to see USA finish third in the group and qualify for the finals. Drawn in Pool 5 with Australia, Ireland and Romania, USA opened with a heavy defeat to Ireland losing 53-8. A tight game against Romania still saw USA come out on the wrong side of a 27-25 score line and a 55-19 loss to eventual winners Australia, meant USA left the 1999 World Cup without a win.
2003
Qualification for the 2003 World Cup in Australia saw USA pitted against Canada, Chile and Uruguay. After a home and away round robin United States finished third behind Canada and Uruguay. This was not good enough to gain one of the two automatic qualification places and as such the Americans were placed in the Repechage tournament. USA qualified by beating Spain home and away going through 120-26 on aggregate. Entering the tournament looking for their first win since their first ever Rugby World Cup in 1987, the USA almost gained it in their opening match against Fiji. Losing 13-19 entering the final stages Kort Schubert scored a try in the corner to take the score to 18-19. However Mike Hercus was unable to make the conversion from the touchline to give the USA victory. After losing 39-15 to Scotland, USA finally broke their winless streak, defeating Japan, the same team they beat in 1987, running out 39-26 winners. A final game defeat to France left USA 4th in the group and out of the tournament.
2007
After finishing runner up to Canada in the North America qualifying group, USA defeated Uruguay in a home and away tie to qualify for the World Cup. Drawn in Pool A against holders England, South Africa, Samoa and Tonga, USA would have a tough challenge to qualify for the quarter finals. Losing 28-10 to England in their opening game, the USA were then unable to overcome Tonga going down 25-10. The Americans ran Samoa close but fell 25-21. A comprehensive 64-15 defeat to South Africa rounded out a difficult and ultimately winless campaign.
2011
Having lost 47-30 on aggregate to Canada in the North America playoff, USA beat Uruguay home and away to qualify 54-28 on aggregate. Drawn in Pool C with Australia, Ireland, Italy and Russia, USA opened with a 22-10 defeat to Ireland. USA defeated Russia in their second pool game to take only their third ever Rugby World Cup victory. However a crushing 67-5 defeat left quarter final qualification beyond the USA and a victory against Italy would be needed to gain 3rd place in the pool and automatic qualification to the 2015 World Cup. Alas USA could not overcome the Italians and went down 27-10, meaning they would once again have to go through the qualification process to reach the World Cup.
The USA have been a regular fixture at the World Cup, only missing the 1995 tournament, even if they go the long way round to get there. However once at the tournament they have struggled to make an impact. Three wins, two against Japan and one against Russia, is all the Americans have to show for their efforts in six tournaments. Rugby is growing in the United States, and the future does appear to be brighter. The planned launch of America’s professional league, the NRFL, USA’s bid to host the 2023 World Cup and USA’s progress in the IRB World Sevens tour, winning their first event at London this year, should see Rugby continue to develop and the USA become more competitive at World Cup finals.
To read more Rugby World Cup History click here
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