Who was the oldest player to appear in a Rugby World Cup?

Diego Ormaechea was the oldest player to appear in a Rugby World Cup, playing for Uruguay at the 1999 tournament aged 40. He also captained Uruguay during the country’s first appearance at the event.

Ormaechea was a number eight from Montevideo who spent most of his club career with Carrasco Polo Club. He earned 73 caps for Uruguay between 1979 and 1999, making him one of the defining figures in the country’s rugby history.

At the 1999 World Cup, Uruguay defeated Spain 27–15, and Ormaechea scored a try in that match. His participation was especially remarkable because he had already enjoyed a playing career lasting two decades before reaching rugby’s biggest international stage.

The record refers to a player appearing in a men’s Rugby World Cup finals tournament, not necessarily the oldest player in all international rugby. Ormaechea later coached Uruguay at the 2003 World Cup and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019.