Rugby's Global Game Begins: New Zealand Takes Stage
New Zealand defeated Italy 18-12 in the opening match of the inaugural Rugby World Cup at Eden Park, Auckland, on May 22, 1987. The tournament, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, featured 16 teams competing over four weeks. New Zealand won the final 29-9 over France at Eden Park, with flanker Michael Jones and wing John Kirwan delivering commanding performances. The All Blacks' haka before matches captivated global television audiences. The tournament proved that rugby union could sustain a commercially viable world championship, and the second World Cup in 1991, hosted by England, was significantly larger. The Rugby World Cup has since grown into the third-largest sporting event in the world by viewership, behind only the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics.
May 22, 1987
39 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on May 22
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