Which team made its Rugby World Cup debut by replacing Tonga in 1991?

Which team made its Rugby World Cup debut by replacing Tonga in 1991? Western Samoa made its Rugby World Cup debut in 1991, replacing Tonga.

The 1991 tournament qualification process produced only one change from the inaugural 1987 field: Western Samoa took Tonga’s place. It was the nation’s first appearance at the World Cup, and the team immediately made an impact by defeating Wales 16–13 in Cardiff during the pool stage.

Western Samoa reached the quarter-finals, where it lost to Scotland 28–6. Although it did not advance further, the campaign established the team as a major force in Pacific rugby. Western Samoa later competed under the name Samoa after the country’s official naming changed in the 1990s.

The replacement detail is easy to misremember because Tonga also became a regular World Cup participant in later editions. In 1991, however, Western Samoa was the new qualifier and the only debutant in the 16-team tournament.