Which team won the first men’s Rugby World Cup in 1987?

New Zealand won the first men’s Rugby World Cup in 1987. The inaugural tournament was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, and the All Blacks defeated France 29–9 in the final at Eden Park in Auckland.

New Zealand dominated the competition, winning all six of its matches. Their squad included captain David Kirk, scrum-half David Kirk, and powerful winger John Kirwan, who scored a memorable long-range try against Italy in the opening match.

The tournament established the Rugby World Cup as rugby union’s premier global competition. It was initially contested by invited teams because the sport’s governing body had not yet created a regular qualification system.

The 1987 event is sometimes confused with the first women’s Rugby World Cup, which was held in Wales in 1991. Australia hosted the first men’s tournament alongside New Zealand, but did not reach the final.