Who scored a record 126 points at the 1987 Rugby World Cup?

Grant Fox scored a record 126 points at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. The New Zealand fly-half achieved the total across six matches as the All Blacks won the inaugural tournament on home soil.

Fox’s points came from 30 conversions, 21 penalty goals and one drop goal; he did not score a try. His accurate kicking was central to New Zealand’s campaign, particularly in an era when goal-kicking could decide tight matches and attacking bonus-point systems had not yet shaped tournament strategy.

The 1987 competition was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia from 22 May to 20 June. New Zealand defeated France 29–9 in the final at Eden Park in Auckland, with Fox contributing points during the tournament but not appearing in the final because of injury.

The record is sometimes confused with a single-match scoring record or with Gavin Hastings, who was another leading scorer at the tournament. Fox’s 126 points refer to the highest total by one player across an entire Rugby World Cup tournament.