How often is the Rugby World Cup held?

The Rugby World Cup is held every four years. This regular four-year cycle makes it a quadrennial international championship, similar to the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

The men's tournament began in 1987, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia. Since then, editions have generally taken place every four years: 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. The gap provides time for qualifying, preparation and the development of national squads.

The schedule has occasionally faced disruption. The 2023 tournament was still held four years after the 2019 edition, while the COVID-19 pandemic affected many other sporting calendars. The Rugby World Cup should also not be confused with annual competitions such as the Six Nations or The Rugby Championship, which involve many of the same national teams but are separate events.

World Rugby organises the tournament, whose winner is recognised as the men's world champion and receives the Webb Ellis Cup. The next men's edition is scheduled for Australia in 2027.