Italy at the Rugby World Cup

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

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Scotland vs Italy at St Etienne, 2007 World Cup
Rugby World Cup record Qualification
Year Round Pld W D L PF PA Squad Head coach Pos Pld W D L PF PA
    1987 Pool stage 3 1 0 2 40 110 Squad M. Bollesan Invited
          1991 Pool stage 3 1 0 2 57 76 Squad B. Fourcade 1st 3 3 0 0 83 38
  1995 Pool stage 3 1 0 2 69 94 Squad G. Coste 2nd 4 3 0 1 210 52
  1999 Pool stage 3 0 0 3 35 196 Squad M. Mascioletti 2nd 6 5 0 1 302 92
  2003 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 77 123 Squad J. Kirwan 1st 2 2 0 0 75 20
  2007 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 85 117 Squad P. Berbizier 1st 2 2 0 0 150 7
  2011 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 92 95 Squad N. Mallett Automatically qualified
  2015 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 74 88 Squad J. Brunel Automatically qualified
  2019 Pool stage 4 2 1 1 98 78 Squad C. O'Shea Automatically qualified
  2023 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 114 181 Squad K. Crowley Automatically qualified
Total 35 15 0 20 741 1158 17 15 0 2 820 209
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue
  • As a result of inclement weather caused by Typhoon Hagibis the 2019 match between New Zealand and Italy was cancelled and awarded as a 0–0 draw. It is not included in the total tally.[1]

Tournaments

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1987 Rugby World Cup

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T Pts Qualification
  New Zealand 3 3 0 0 190 34 +156 30 6 Knockout stage
  Fiji 3 1 0 2 56 101 −45 6 2[a]
  Italy 3 1 0 2 40 110 −70 5 2[a]
  Argentina 3 1 0 2 49 90 −41 4 2[a]
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Fiji qualified for the highest number of tries (Fiji 6, Italy 5, Argentina 4)
22 May 1987
New Zealand  70–6  Italy
Try: Kirwan (2)
Kirk (2)
Green (2)
Penalty try
Jones
Taylor
McDowell
Stanley
Whetton
Con: Fox (8)
Pen: Fox (2)
Pen: Collodo
Drop: Collodo
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Bob Fordham (Australia)

28 May 1987
Argentina  25–16  Italy
Try: Lanza
Gómez
Con: Porta
Pen: Porta (5)
Try: Innocenti
Cuttitta
Con: Collodo
Pen: Collodo (2)
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Roger Quittenton (England)

31 May 1987
Fiji  15–18  Italy
Try: Naivilawasa
Con: Koroduadua
Pen: Koroduadua (2)
Drop: Qoro
Try: Cuttitta
Cucchiella
Mascioletti
Pen: Collodo
Drop: Collodo
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Keith Lawrence (New Zealand)

1991 Rugby World Cup

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
  New Zealand 3 3 0 0 95 39 +56 6
  England 3 2 0 1 85 33 +52 4
  Italy 3 1 0 2 57 76 −19 2
  United States 3 0 0 3 24 113 −89 0
Source: [citation needed]
5 October 1991
Italy  30–9  United States
Try: Barba
Francescato
Vaccari
Gaetaniello
Con: Domínguez (4)
Pen: Domínguez (2)
Try: Swords
Con: Williams
Pen: Williams
Cross Green, Otley
Referee: Owen Doyle (Ireland)

8 October 1991
England  36–6  Italy
Try: Guscott (2)
Underwood
Webb
Con: Webb (4)
Pen: Webb (4)
Try: Cuttitta
Con: Domínguez
Twickenham Stadium, London
Referee: Brian Anderson (Scotland)

13 October 1991
Italy  21–31  New Zealand
Try: Cuttitta
Bonomi
Con: Domínguez (2)
Pen: Domínguez (3)
Try: Brooke
Innes
Tuigamala
Hewett
Con: Fox (3)
Pen: Fox (3)
Welford Road Stadium, Leicester
Attendance: 16,800
Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (Australia)

1995 Rugby World Cup

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
  England 3 3 0 0 95 60 +35 9
  Western Samoa 3 2 0 1 96 88 +8 7
  Italy 3 1 0 2 69 94 −25 5
  Argentina 3 0 0 3 69 87 −18 3
Source: [citation needed]
27 May 1995
Italy  18–42  Western Samoa
Try: Vaccari
Cuttitta
Con: Domínguez
Pen: Domínguez
Drop: Domínguez
ReportTry: Lima (2)
Harder (2)
Kellett
Tatupu
Con: Kellett (3)
Pen: Kellett (2)
Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Joel Dume (France)

31 May 1995
England  27–20  Italy
Try: R. Underwood
T. Underwood
Con: Andrew
Pen: Andrew (5)
Try: Cuttitta
Vaccari
Con: Domínguez (2)
Pen: Domínguez (2)
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: Stephen Hilditch (Ireland)

4 June 1995
Argentina  25–31  Italy
Try: Corral
MartínMartín
Cilley
Con: Cilley
Pen: Cilley
Try: Vaccari
Gerosa
Domínguez
Con: Domínguez (2)
Pen: Domínguez (4)
Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)

1999 Rugby World Cup

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
  New Zealand 3 3 0 0 176 28 +148 9
  England 3 2 0 1 184 47 +137 7
  Tonga 3 1 0 2 47 171 −124 5
  Italy 3 0 0 3 35 196 −161 3
Source: [citation needed]

10 October 1999
Italy  25–28  Tonga
Try: Moscardi
Con: Domínguez
Pen: Domínguez (6)
Try: Taufahema
Fatani
Tuipulotu
Con: Tuipulotu (2)
Pen: Tuipulotu (2)
Drop: Tuipulotu
Welford Road Stadium, Leicester
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)


2003 Rugby World Cup

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Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP Pts Qualification
  New Zealand 4 4 0 0 282 57 +225 4 20 Quarter-finals
  Wales 4 3 0 1 132 98 +34 2 14
  Italy 4 2 0 2 77 123 −46 0 8
  Canada 4 1 0 3 54 135 −81 1 5
  Tonga 4 0 0 4 46 178 −132 1 1
Source: [citation needed]
11 October 2003
New Zealand  70–7  Italy
Try: B. Thorn
R. Thorne
Howlett (2)
Spencer (2)
Rokocoko (2)
Marshall
Carter
MacDonald
Con: Carter (6)
Pen: Spencer
Try: Phillips
Con: Peens
Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 41,715
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

15 October 2003
Italy  36–12  Tonga
Try: M. Dallan
D. Dallan (2)
Con: Wakarua (3)
Pen: Wakarua (5)
Try: Payne
Tuʻifua
Con: Tuipulotu
Canberra Stadium
Attendance: 18,967
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)

21 October 2003
Italy  19–14  Canada
Try: Parisse
Con: Wakarua
Pen: Wakarua (4)
Try: Fyffe
Pen: Barker (3)
Canberra Stadium
Attendance: 20,515
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

25 October 2003
Italy  15–27  Wales
Pen: Wakarua (5)Try: M. Jones
Parker
D. Jones
Con: Harris (3)
Pen: Harris (3)
Canberra Stadium
Attendance: 22,641
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

2007 Rugby World Cup

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD B Pts Qualification
1   New Zealand 4 4 0 0 309 35 +274 4 20 Qualified for the quarter-finals
2   Scotland 4 3 0 1 116 66 +50 2 14
3   Italy 4 2 0 2 85 117 −32 1 9 Eliminated, automatic qualification for RWC 2011
4   Romania 4 1 0 3 40 161 −121 1 5
5   Portugal 4 0 0 4 38 209 −171 1 1
Source: [citation needed]
8 September 2007
13:45
New Zealand  76–14  Italy
Try: McCaw (2) 2' c, 7' c
Howlett (3) 12' c, 56' c, 59' m
Muliaina 15' c
Sivivatu (2) 18' c, 29' m
Jack 50' c
Collins (2) 68' c, 70' c
Con: Carter (7/9)
McAlister (2/2)
Pen: Carter (1/1) 11'
ReportTry: Stanojevic 38' c
Mi. Bergamasco 71' c
Con: Bortolussi (1/1)
De Marigny (1/1)
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 58,612
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

12 September 2007
20:00
Italy  24–18  Romania
Try: Dellapè 6' m
Penalty try 55' c
Con: Pez (1/1)
Pen: Bortolussi (1/2) 14'
Ramiro Pez (3/3) 62', 66', 72'
ReportTry: Manta 43' m
Țincu 47' c
Con: Dimofte (1/1)
Pen: Dimofte (2/2) 70', 74'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 44,241
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

19 September 2007
20:00
Italy  31–5  Portugal
Try: Masi (2) 4' c, 77' c
Ma. Bergamasco 72' m
Con: Bortolussi (2/3)
Pen: Bortolussi (4/4) 17', 30', 40+', 63'
ReportTry: Penalva 33' m
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 45,476
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

29 September 2007
21:00
Scotland  18–16  Italy
Pen: Paterson (6/6) 2', 6', 32', 35', 47', 53'ReportTry: Troncon 13' c
Con: Bortolussi (1/1)
Pen: Bortolussi (3/6) 18', 56', 62'
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Attendance: 34,701
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

2011 Rugby World Cup

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1   Ireland 4 4 0 0 135 34 +101 15 1 17 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2   Australia 4 3 0 1 173 48 +125 25 3 15
3   Italy 4 2 0 2 92 95 −3 13 2 10 Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4   United States 4 1 0 3 38 122 −84 4 0 4
5   Russia 4 0 0 4 57 196 −139 8 1 1
Source: [citation needed]

All times are local New Zealand time (UTC+12 until 24 September, UTC+13 from 25 September[2])


11 September 2011
15:30
Australia  32–6  Italy
Try: Alexander 50' m
Ashley-Cooper 55' c
O'Connor 58' c
Ioane 66' c
Con: O'Connor (3/4)
Pen: Cooper (2/3) 19', 30'
ReportPen: Mi. Bergamasco (2/3) 38', 40+'
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 25,731
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

20 September 2011
19:30
Italy  53–17  Russia
Try: Parisse 6' c
Toniolatti (2) 13' m, 23' c
Benvenuti (2) 16' m, 48' m
Penalty try 29' c
Gori 37' c
McLean 64' m
Zanni 77' m
Con: Bocchino (4/6)
Benvenuti (0/3)
Pen: Bocchino (0/1)
ReportTry: Yanyushkin 34' c
Ostroushko 50' m
Makovetski 71' m
Con: Rachkov (1/3)
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Attendance: 12,418
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

27 September 2011
19:30
Italy  27–10  United States
Try: Parisse 3' c
Orquera 30' m
Castrogiovanni 40' m
Penalty try 66' c
Con: Mi. Bergamasco (2/4)
Pen: Mi. Bergamasco (1/1) 22'
ReportTry: Wyles 18' c
Con: Wyles (1/1)
Pen: Wyles (1/1) 28'
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Attendance: 14,997
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

2 October 2011
20:30
Ireland  36–6  Italy
Try: O'Driscoll 47' c
Earls (2) 52' c, 80+' c
Con: O'Gara (2/2)
Sexton (1/1)
Pen: O'Gara (4/5) 7', 18', 35', 44'
Sexton (1/1) 70'
ReportPen: Mi. Bergamasco (2/3) 11', 21'
Otago Stadium, Dunedin
Attendance: 28,027
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

2015 Rugby World Cup

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Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1   Ireland 4 4 0 0 134 35 +99 16 2 18 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2   France 4 3 0 1 120 63 +57 12 2 14
3   Italy 4 2 0 2 74 88 −14 7 2 10 Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4   Romania 4 1 0 3 60 129 −69 7 0 4
5   Canada 4 0 0 4 58 131 −73 7 2 2
Source: [citation needed]
19 September 2015 France   32–10   Italy Twickenham Stadium, London
26 September 2015 Italy   23–18   Canada Elland Road, Leeds
4 October 2015 Ireland   16–9   Italy Olympic Stadium, London
11 October 2015 Italy   32–22   Romania Sandy Park, Exeter

2019 Rugby World Cup

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Pool B
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1   New Zealand 4 3 1 0 157 22 +135 22 2 16 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2   South Africa 4 3 0 1 185 36 +149 27 3 15
3   Italy 4 2 1 1 98 78 +20 14 2 12 Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4   Namibia 4 0 1 3 34 175 −141 3 0 2
5   Canada 4 0 1 3 14 177 −163 2 0 2
Source: [citation needed]
22 September 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Italy  47–22  Namibia
Try: Penalty try 11'
Allan 26' c
Tebaldi 40+1' c
Bellini 44' c
Canna 47' c
Polledri 70' m
Minozzi 76' c
Con: Allan (3/3) 27', 40+2', 45'
Canna (2/3) 48', 77'
ReportTry: Stevens 6' c
Greyling 57' m
Plato 79' c
Con: Loubser (2/3) 7', 80'
Pen: Loubser (1/1) 51'
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka
Attendance: 20,354
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

26 September 2019
16:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Italy  48–7  Canada
Try: Steyn 8' c
Budd 13' c
Negri 44' c
Penalty try 59'
Bellini 62' m
Zani 73' c
Minozzi 79' m
Con: Allan (3/4) 9', 14', 45'
Canna (1/2) 74'
Pen: Allan (1/1) 3'
ReportTry: Coe 69' c
Con: Nelson (1/1) 71'
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka
Attendance: 16,984
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

4 October 2019
18:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) South Africa  49–3  Italy
Try: Kolbe (2) 6' c, 53' m
Mbonambi 27' c
Am 58' c
Mapimpi 68' c
Snyman 76' m
Marx 80+3' m
Con: Pollard (4/7) 7', 28', 60', 69'
Pen: Pollard (2/2) 12', 51'
ReportPen: Allan (1/1) 9'
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Fukuroi
Attendance: 44,148
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

12 October 2019
13:45 JST (UTC+09)
New Zealand  0–0
(Cancelled)
  Italy
Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Notes:

  • As a result of inclement weather caused by Typhoon Hagibis this match was cancelled and awarded as a 0–0 draw.[3]

2023 Rugby World Cup

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Pool A
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts Qualification
1   France (H) 4 4 0 0 210 32 +178 27 5 2 18 Advance to knockout stage, and
qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
2   New Zealand 4 3 0 1 253 47 +206 38 4 3 15
3   Italy 4 2 0 2 114 181 −67 15 25 2 10 Qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
4   Uruguay 4 1 0 3 65 164 −99 9 21 1 5
5   Namibia 4 0 0 4 37 255 −218 3 37 0 0
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers
(H) Host
9 September 2023
13:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Italy  52–8  Namibia
Try: L. Cannone 11' c
P. Garbisi 15' c
Lamb 46' c
Capuozzo 55' c
Faiva 74' c
Zuliani 78' c
Odogwu 80+3' c
Con: Allan (7/7) 12', 16', 48', 57', 75', 79', 80+4'
Pen: Allan (1/1) 8'
ReportTry: Mouton 21' m
Pen: Swanepoel (1/2) 4'
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Attendance: 35,515
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

20 September 2023
17:45 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Italy  38–17  Uruguay
Try: Pani 7' c
Lamaro 46' c
Ioane 52' c
L. Cannone 56' c
Brex 61' c
Con: Allan (5/5) 8', 47', 53', 57', 62'
Pen: P. Garbisi (1/1) 70'
ReportTry: Penalty try 27'
Freitas 37' c
Con: Etcheverry (1/1) 38'
Drop: Etcheverry (1/1) 42'
Stade de Nice, Nice
Attendance: 28,627
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)[4]

29 September 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) New Zealand  96–17  Italy
Try: Jordan (2) 7' c, 70' c
Smith (3) 17' c, 27' c, 34' c
Tele'a 19' c
Savea (2) 22' c, 40+5' c
Retallick 50' c
Papalii 55' c
Coles (2) 61' m, 73' c
McKenzie 67' c
Lienert-Brown 76' c
Con: Mo'unga (9/10) 8', 18', 20, 23', 28', 35', 40+6', 51', 57'
McKenzie (4/4) 69', 71', 74', 77'
ReportTry: Capuozzo 48' c
Ioane 80+1' c
Con: Allan (1/1) 49'
P. Garbisi (1/1) 80+3'
Pen: Allan (1/1) 10'
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu
Attendance: 57,672
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)[4]

6 October 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) France  60–7  Italy
Try: Penaud (2) 2' c, 38' c
Bielle-Biarrey 13' c
Ramos 22' c
Jalibert 47' c
Mauvaka 54' c
Moefana (2) 64' c, 76' m
Con: Ramos (6/6) 4', 14', 23', 39', 48', 55'
Jaminet (1/2) 65'
Pen: Ramos (1/2) 7'
Jaminet (1/1) 80+1'
ReportTry: Zuliani 71' c
Con: Allan (1/1) 72'
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)[4]

Team records

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Most points in a tournament

  • 114 – 2023
  • 98 – 2019
  • 92 – 2011

Most points in a game

Biggest winning margin

Highest score against

Biggest losing margin

Most tries in a tournament

  • 15 – 2023
  • 14 – 2019
  • 13 – 2011

Most tries in a game

Individual records

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Most appearances

Most points overall

Most points in a game

Most tries overall

Most tries in a game

Most penalty goals

Most penalty goals in a game

Hosting

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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

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  • Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN 1860746020.
  • Farr-Jones, Nick (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup. Australian Post Corporation. ISBN 0-642-36811-2.
  1. ^ "Typhoon Hagibis impact on Rugby World Cup 2019 matches". Rugby World Cup. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  2. ^ The change in time zone is due to the start of daylight saving time in New Zealand, at 2:00am on Sunday 25 September
  3. ^ "Typhoon Hagibis impact on Rugby World Cup 2019 matches". Rugby World Cup. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.