Italy have competed in all the Rugby World Cup tournaments, having made their first appearance in the inaugural 1987 tournament. They have finished third in their pool at every tournament, except in 1999, the only tournament where they lost more than two games. Having never finished in the top two in their pool, they have never qualified to progress to the quarter-finals. They have won the most matches of those that have never made it to the quarter-finals.
Because they finished third in Pool C of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, they automatically qualified to compete in the 2011 tournament in New Zealand. A similar finishing position in that tournament saw them automatically qualify for the 2015 World Cup in England, where they retained the third place and the automatic qualification for France 2023.
By position
Tournaments
1987 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
All times are local New Zealand time (UTC+12 until 24 September, UTC+13 from 25 SeptemberThe change in time zone is due to the start of daylight saving time in New Zealand, at 2:00am on Sunday 25 September)
2015 Rugby World Cup
19 September 201532–10Twickenham Stadium, London26 September 201523–18Elland Road, Leeds4 October 201516–9Olympic Stadium, London11 October 201532–22Sandy Park, Exeter
2019 Rugby World Cup
Pool B
Notes: As a result of inclement weather caused by Typhoon Hagibis this match was cancelled and awarded as a 0–0 draw.
2023 Rugby World Cup
Pool A
Overall record
Against Played Win Draw Lost Win % 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 6 0 1 6 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 Overall 1
As a result of inclement weather caused by Typhoon Hagibis the match between New Zealand and Italy was not played but was awarded as a 0–0 draw.
Team records Most points in a tournament 114 – 2023 98 – 2019 92 – 2011
Most points in a game 53 vs (2011) 52 vs (2023) 48 vs (2019)
Biggest winning margin 44 vs (2023) 41 Vs (2019) 36 vs (2011)
Highest score against 101 vs (1999) 96 vs (2023) 76 vs (2007)
Biggest losing margin 98 vs (1999) 79 vs (2023) 64 vs (1987)
Most tries in a tournament 15 – 2023 14 – 2019 13 – 2011
Most tries in a game 9 vs (2011) 7 vs (2019) 7 vs (2023) 7 vs (2019)
Individual records Most appearances 15 – Sergio Parisse (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019) 14 – Martin Castrogiovanni (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015) 13 – Alessandro Troncon (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007) 13 – Mauro Bergamasco (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015) 12 – Andrea Masi (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Most points overall 101 – Tommaso Allan (2015, 2019, 2023) 98 – Diego Dominguez (1991, 1995, 1999) 50 – Rima Wakarua (2003) 32 – David Bortolussi (2007) 24 – Mirco Bergamasco (2003, 2007, 2011)
Most points in a game 21 – Diego Dominguez vs (1995) 21 – Rima Wakarua vs (2003) 20 – Diego Dominguez vs (1999) 17 – Tommaso Allan vs (2015) 17 – Tommaso Allan vs (2023)
Most tries overall 5 – Marcello Cuttitta (1987, 1991, 1995) 4 – Paolo Vaccari (1991, 1995, 1999) 3 – Sergio Parisse (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019)
Most tries in a game 2 – Denis Dallan vs (2003) 2 – Andrea Masi vs (2007) 2 – Giulio Toniolatti vs (2011) 2 – Tommaso Benvenuti vs (2011)
Most penalty goals 19 – Diego Domínguez (1991, 1995, 1999) 14 – Rima Wakarua (2003) 13 – Tommaso Allan (2015, 2019, 2023) 8 – Mirco Bergamasco (2003, 2007, 2011) 5 – David Bortolussi (2007)
Most penalty goals in a game 6 – Diego Domínguez vs (1999) 5 – Rima Wakarua vs (2003) 5 – Rima Wakarua vs (2003) 4 – Diego Domínguez vs (1995) 4 – David Bortolussi vs (2007)
Hosting
The Rugby World Cup is held every four years, and tends to alternate between the northern and southern hemispheres. Italy has yet to host the World Cup, although the Italian Rugby Federation made unsuccessful bids for the 2015 and 2019 competitions.
References