Which rugby union competition awards the Webb Ellis Cup to its men’s champion?

The Rugby World Cup awards the Webb Ellis Cup to its men’s champion.

The tournament is rugby union’s premier men’s international competition and is normally held every four years. It began in 1987, when New Zealand won the inaugural edition. The trophy is named after William Webb Ellis, the Rugby School pupil traditionally associated with rugby’s origin story.

The Webb Ellis Cup is made of silver gilt and was first presented at the 1987 tournament. It is commonly called the Webb Ellis Cup, although the competition itself is the Rugby World Cup. The winning captain lifts it after the final, while the tournament’s official awards and records distinguish the trophy from medals and other championship prizes.

The Rugby World Cup has expanded in format over time. The inaugural event featured sixteen teams, while later editions included twenty. The women’s Rugby World Cup is a separate competition with its own tournament history and trophy, so the men’s competition should be identified explicitly when discussing the Webb Ellis Cup.