Canada at the Rugby World Cup

The Canada national rugby union team has played in every Rugby World Cup except 2023 since the inaugural tournament in 1987.^[1] Their best performance was in 1991, when they beat Fiji and Romania, qualifying for the quarter-finals, where they lost to New Zealand.

Canada National Rugby Squad, 1987 World Cup

Canada has the second strongest national rugby side in North America after the United States, and the fifth strongest in the Americas after Argentina, the United States, Uruguay and Chile.

Nation	Number of appearances	First appearance	Most recent appearance	Streak	Best result
Canada	9	1987	2019	9	Quarter finals, 1991

Summary of results by tournament

Year	Round	Position	Played	Won	Draw	Lost	Pts for	Pts against	Pts diff
1987	Pool	9th	3	1	0	2	65	90	−25
1991	QF	7th	4	2	0	2	58	64	−6
1995	Pool	9th	3	1	0	2	45	50	−5
1999	Pool	9th	3	1	0	2	114	82	32
2003	Pool	15th	4	1	0	3	54	135	−81
2007	Pool	16th	4	0	1	3	51	120	−69
2011	Pool	12th	4	1	1	2	82	168	−86
2015	Pool	17th	4	0	0	4	58	131	−73
2019	Pool	18th	3	0	0	3	14	177	−163
2023	Did not qualify
Total	9/10		32	7	2	23	541	1,017	−476

By match

1987 Rugby World Cup

For the names of all Canada 1987 Rugby World Cup squad members, see 1987 Rugby World Cup squads#Canada.

Pool 2 games -

Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	T	Pts	Qualification
Wales	3	3	0	82	31	51	13	6	Knockout stage
Ireland	3	2	1	84	41	43	11	4	Knockout stage
Canada	3	1	2	65	91	−26	8	2
Tonga	3	0	3	30	98	−68	3	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

24 May 1987

Canada	37–5^[2]	Tonga
Try: Palmer (2) Vaesen (2) Stuart Frame Penalty try Con: Wyatt (2) Gareth Rees Pen: Rees		Try: Valu

McLean Park, Napier
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Clive Norling (Wales)

30 May 1987

Canada	19–46^[3]	Ireland
Try: Cardinal Pen: Rees (3) Wyatt Drop: Rees		Try: Crossan (2) Bradley Spillane Ringland MacNeill Con: Kiernan (5) Pen: Kiernan (2) Drop: Ward Kiernan

Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Fred Howard (England)

3 June 1987

Canada	9–40^[4]^[5]	Wales
Pen: Rees (3)		Try: Evans (4) Devereux Bowen Hadley Phillips Con: Thorburn (4)

Rugby Park, Invercargill
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Dave Bishop (New Zealand)

1991 Rugby World Cup

Pool 4 games -

Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
France	3	3	0	82	25	57	6
Canada	3	2	1	45	33	12	4
Romania	3	1	2	31	64	−33	2
Fiji	3	0	3	27	63	−36	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

5 October 1991

Canada	13–3	Fiji
Try: Stewart Pen: Rees (3)		Drop: Serevi

Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (Australia)

9 October 1991

Canada	19–11	Romania
Tries: McKinnon, Ennis Con: Mark Wyatt Pen: Wyatt (2) Drop: Rees		Tries: Lungu, Sasu Pen: Nichitean

Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
Referee: Sandy MacNeill (Australia)

13 October 1991

France	19–13	Canada
Tries: Lafond, Saint-André Con: Camberabero Pen: Lacroix (2), Camberabero		Tries: Wyatt Pen: Wyatt, Rees Drop: Rees

Stade Armandie, Agen
Referee: Stephen Hilditch (Ireland)

Quarter-final

20 October 1991

Canada	13–29	New Zealand
Tries: Tynan, Charron Con: Rees Pen: Wyatt		Tries: Timu (2), McCahill, Brooke, Kirwan Con: Fox (3) Pen: Fox

Stadium Lille-Metropole, Villeneuve d'Ascq
Referee: Fred Howard (England)

1995 Rugby World Cup

Pool A games -

Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
South Africa	3	3	0	68	26	42	9
Australia	3	2	1	87	41	46	7
Canada	3	1	2	45	50	−5	5
Romania	3	0	3	14	97	−83	3

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

26 May 1995

Canada	34–3	Romania
Tries: Al Charron, Colin McKenzie, Rod Snow Con: Gareth Rees (2) Pen: Gareth Rees (4)		Pen: Neculai Nichitean

Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)

31 May 1995

Australia	27–11	Canada
Tries: Michael Lynagh, Tabua Tamanivalu, Joe Roff Con: Michael Lynagh (3) Pen: Michael Lynagh (2)		Tries: Al Charron Pen: Gareth Rees (2)

Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Patrick Robin (France)

3 June 1995

South Africa	20–0	Canada
Tries: Adriaan Richter (2) Con: Joel Stransky (2) Pen: Joel Stransky (2)

Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Attendance: 31,000
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

1999 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 games -

Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
France	3	3	0	108	52	56	9
Fiji	3	2	1	124	68	56	7
Canada	3	1	2	114	82	32	5
Namibia	3	0	3	42	186	−144	3

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

2 October 1999

France	33–20	Canada
Tries: Émile Ntamack, Stéphane Glas, Thomas Castaignède, Olivier Magne Con: Richard Dourthe (2) Pen: Richard Dourthe (3)		Tries: Morgan Williams (2) Con: Bobby Ross, Gareth Rees Pen: Bobby Ross, Gareth Rees

Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers
Referee: Brian Campsall (England)

9 October 1999

Fiji	38–22	Canada
Tries: Viliame Satala (2), Marika Vunibaka, Fero Lasagavibau Con: Nicky Little (3) Pen: Nicky Little (3) Drop: Nicky Little		Tries: Mike James Con: Gareth Rees Pen: Gareth Rees (4) Drop: Gareth Rees

Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

14 October 1999

Canada	72–11	Namibia
Tries: Winston Stanley (2), Rod Snow (2), Kyle Nichols (2), Al Charron, Bobby Ross, Morgan Williams Con: Gareth Rees (9) Pen: Gareth Rees (3)		Tries: Quinton Hough Pen: Leandre Van Dyk (2)

Stadium Municipal, Toulouse
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

2003 Rugby World Cup

Group D games -

Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts	Qualification
New Zealand	4	4	0	282	57	225	4	20	Quarter-finals
Wales	4	3	1	132	98	34	2	14	Quarter-finals
Italy	4	2	2	77	123	−46	0	8
Canada	4	1	3	54	135	−81	1	5
Tonga	4	0	4	46	178	−132	1	1

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

12 October 2003

Wales	41–10	Canada
Tries: Parker, Cooper, M. Jones, Charvis, Thomas Con: Harris (5) Pen: Harris (2)		Tries: Tkachuk Con: Pritchard Drop: Ross

Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 24,874
Referee: Chris White (England)

17 October 2003

New Zealand	68–6	Canada
Tries: Ralph (2), So'oialo (2), Muliaina (4), Meeuws, Nonu Con: Carter (9)		Pen: Barker (2)

Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 38,899
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

21 October 2003

Italy	19–14	Canada
Tries: Parisse Con: Wakarua Pen: Wakarua (4)		Tries: Fyffe Pen: Barker (3)

Canberra Stadium
Attendance: 20,515
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

29 October 2003

Canada	24–7	Tonga
Tries: Fauth, Abrams Con: Pritchard Pen: Ross (4)		Tries: Kivalu Con: Hola

Wollongong Showground, Wollongong
Attendance: 15,630
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

2007 Rugby World Cup

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Australia	4	4	0	0	215	41	174	4	20	Qualified for the quarter-finals
2	Fiji	4	3	0	1	114	136	−22	3	15	Qualified for the quarter-finals
3	Wales	4	2	0	2	168	105	63	4	12	Eliminated, automatic qualification for RWC 2011
4	Japan	4	0	1	3	64	210	−146	1	3
5	Canada	4	0	1	3	51	120	−69	0	2

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

9 September 2007
14:00

Wales	42–17	Canada
Try: Parker 52' c A. W. Jones 58' c S. Williams (2) 61' m, 63' c Charvis 68' c Con: S. Jones (4/5) Pen: Hook (3/4) 10', 15', 21'	Report	Tries: Cudmore 25' m Culpan 36' c Williams 45' m Con: Pritchard (1/3)

Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Attendance: 37,500
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

16 September 2007
14:00

Fiji	29–16	Canada
Tries: Leawere 22' c Ratuvou (2) 28' m, 80 ' c Delasau 42' c Con: Little (3/4) Pen: Little (1/3) 8'	Report	Tries: Smith 60' c Con: Pritchard (1/1) Pen: Pritchard (3/4) 4', 27', 74'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

25 September 2007
18:00

Canada	12–12	Japan
Tries: Riordan 48' m Van der Merwe 65' c Con: Pritchard (1/1)	Report	Tries: Endo 12' m Taira 80 ' c Con: Onishi (1/2)

Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Attendance: 33,810
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

29 September 2007
15:00

Australia	37–6	Canada
Tries: Baxter 24' m Freier 34' m Smith 51' m Mitchell (2) 63' c, 65' m Latham 73' c Con: Shepherd (2/3) Pen: Huxley (1/1) 2'	Report	Pen: Pritchard (2/2) 42', 54'

Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
Attendance: 35,200
Referee: Chris White (England)

2011 Rugby World Cup

Pool A games

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	New Zealand	4	4	0	0	240	49	191	36	4	20	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2	France	4	2	0	2	124	96	28	13	3	11
3	Tonga	4	2	0	2	80	98	−18	7	1	9	Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4	Canada	4	1	1	2	82	168	−86	9	0	6
5	Japan	4	0	1	3	69	184	−115	8	0	2

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

14 September 2011
17:00

Tonga	20–25	Canada
Tries: Piutau (2) 40', 52' Con: Morath (2) 41', 53' Pen: Morath (2) 42', 64'	Report	Tries: Sinclair 13' Carpenter 67' Mackenzie 73' Con: Pritchard (2) Pen: Pritchard (2) 26', 45'

Northland Events Centre, Whangārei
Attendance: 24,874
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

18 September 2011
20:30

France	46–19	Canada
Tries: Clerc (3) 4', 78', 80 ' Traille 64' Con: Parra (4) 5', 64', 80', 80 ' Pen: Parra (5) 16', 36', 38', 41', 47'	Report	Tries: Smith 7' Con: Pritchard 7; Pen: Pritchard (2) 2', 60'

McLean Park, Napier
Attendance: 38,899
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

27 September 2011

Canada	23–23	Japan
Tries: Van der Merwe 6' Mackenzie 44' Monro 75' Con: Pritchard 7' Pen: Monro (2) 63', 78'	Report	Tries: Horie 9' Endo 39' Con: Arlidge (2) 10', 40' Pen: Arlidge (3) 23', 65', 72'

Canberra Stadium
Attendance: 20,515
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

2 October 2011

New Zealand	79–15	Canada
Tries: Guildford (4) 7', 24', 35', 76' Vito (2) 11', 80' Dagg 20' Muliaina 29' Cowan 44' Kaino (2) 51', 67' Williams 59' Con:Slade (4) 8', 30', 45', 52' Weepu (4) 61', 68', 78', 80' Pen: Slade (1/1) 15'	Report	Tries: Trainor (2) 40', 42' Con: Monro 42' Pen: Monro 2'

Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 37,665
Referee: Romain Poite (France)

2015 Rugby World Cup

Pool D games

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Ireland	4	4	0	134	35	99	16	2	18	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2	France	4	3	1	120	63	57	12	2	14
3	Italy	4	2	2	74	88	−14	7	2	10	Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4	Romania	4	1	3	60	129	−69	7	0	4
5	Canada	4	0	4	58	131	−73	7	2	2

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

19 September 2015
14:30

Ireland	50–7	Canada
Try: O'Brien 18' c Henderson 25' c Sexton 28' m D. Kearney 35' c Cronin 66' c R. Kearney 73' c Payne 76' c Con: Sexton (3/4) 19',26', 37' Madigan (3/3) 67', 74', 77' Pen: Sexton (1/1) 14'	Report	Try: Van der Merwe 68' c Con: Hirayama (1/1) 69'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 68,523
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

26 September 2015
14:30

Italy	23–18	Canada
Try: Rizzo 17' c Garcia 58' c Con: Allan (2/2) 18', 59' Pen: Allan (3/3) 25', 40', 80'	Report	Try: Van der Merwe 15' c Evans 44' m Con: Hirayama (1/2) 16' Pen: Hirayama (2/3) 14', 72'

Elland Road, Leeds
Attendance: 33,120
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

1 October 2015
20:00

France	41–18	Canada
Try: Fofana 4' c Guirado 28' c Slimani 38' c Papé 67' c Grosso 74' c Con: Michalak (4/4) 5', 30', 39', 67' Parra (1/1) 76' Pen: Michalak (2/2) 14', 59'	Report	Try: Van der Merwe 31' c Carpenter 34' m Con: Hirayama (1/2) 32' Pen: Hirayama (2/2) 42', 56'

Stadium mk, Milton Keynes
Attendance: 28,145
Referee: JP Doyle (England)

6 October 2015
16:45

Canada	15–17	Romania
Try: Van der Merwe 33' m Hassler 44' c Con: Hirayama (1/1) 45' Pen: McRorie (1/4) 11'	Report	Try: Macovei (2) 53' c, 74' c Con: Vlaicu (2/2) 54', 75' Pen: Vlaicu (1/2) 78'

Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
Attendance: 27,156
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

2019 Rugby World Cup

Pool B Games

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	New Zealand	4	3	1	0	157	22	135	22	2	16	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2	South Africa	4	3	0	1	185	36	149	27	3	15
3	Italy	4	2	1	1	98	78	20	14	2	12	Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4	Namibia	4	0	1	3	34	175	−141	3	0	2
5	Canada	4	0	1	3	14	177	−163	2	0	2

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

26 September 2019
16:45 JST (UTC 09)

(1 BP) Italy	48–7	Canada
Try: Steyn 8' c Budd 13' c Negri 44' c Penalty try 59' Bellini 62' m Zani 73' c Minozzi 79' m Con: Allan (3/4) 9', 14', 45' Canna (1/2) 74' Pen: Allan (1/1) 3'	Report	Try: Coe 69' c Con: Nelson (1/1) 71'

Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka
Attendance: 16,984
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

2 October 2019
19:15 JST (UTC 09)

(1 BP) New Zealand	63–0	Canada
Try: Penalty try 5' J. Barrett 9' c Williams 17' c B. Barrett 36' c Ioane 41' c S. Barrett 45' c Frizell 47' c Weber (2) 50' c, 57' c Con: Mo'unga (8/8) 10', 19', 37', 43', 46', 49', 51', 59'	Report

Oita Stadium, Ōita
Attendance: 34,411
Referee: Romain Poite (France)

8 October 2019
19:15 JST (UTC 09)

(1 BP) South Africa	66–7	Canada
Try: de Allende 3' c Nkosi 6' m Reinach (3) 10' c, 18' c, 21' c Gelant 28' c Steyn 40' 1 c Brits 55' c Willemse 66' c Malherbe 73' m Con: E. Jantjies (8/10) 3', 12', 20', 22', 29', 40' 2, 56', 68'	Report	Try: Heaton 46' c Con: Nelson (1/1) 48'

Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe
Attendance: 28,014
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

13 October 2019
12:15 JST (UTC 09)

Namibia	0–0 (Cancelled)	Canada

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Kamaishi
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Notes:

Despite both teams naming their sides, this match was cancelled following an evacuation order in Kamaishi during Typhoon Hagibis and awarded as a 0–0 draw.^[6]

World Cup records

Overall record

Opponent	Played	Win	Draw	Lost	Win %
Ireland	2	0	0	2	0%
Wales	3	0	0	3	0%
Tonga	3	3	0	0	100%
Fiji	3	1	0	2	34%
France	4	0	0	4	0%
Romania	3	2	0	1	67%
South Africa	2	0	0	2	0%
Australia	2	0	0	2	0%
Namibia	1	1	0	0	100%
New Zealand	4	0	0	4	0%
Italy	3	0	0	3	0%
Japan	2	0	2	0	0%
Overall	32	7	2	23	22%

Team records

Most points scored in a game

72 vs Namibia (1999)
37 vs Tonga (1987)
34 vs Romania (1995)
25 vs Tonga (2011)
23 vs Japan (2011)

Biggest winning margin

61 vs Namibia (1999)
33 vs Tonga (1987)
31 vs Romania (1995)
17 vs Tonga (2003)
10 vs Fiji (1991)

Most points conceded in a game

79 vs New Zealand (2011)
68 vs New Zealand (2003)
66 vs South Africa (2019)
63 vs New Zealand (2019)
50 vs Ireland (2015)

Biggest losing margin

64 vs New Zealand (2011)
63 vs New Zealand (2019)
62 vs New Zealand (2003)
59 vs South Africa (2019)
43 vs Ireland (2015)

Most tries scored in a game

9 vs Namibia (1999)
7 vs Tonga (1987)
3 vs Romania (1995)
3 vs Tonga (2011)
3 vs Japan (2011)

Individual records

Most World Cup matches

15 D. T. H. van der Merwe 2007–2019
14 Rod Snow 1995–2007
14 Jamie Cudmore 2003–2015
13 Gareth Rees 1987–1999
12 Al Charron 1991–2003
12 Aaron Carpenter 2007–2015

Most points overall

Most points in a game

27 vs Namibia – Gareth Rees 1999
19 vs Romania – Gareth Rees 1995
14 vs Fiji – Gareth Rees 1999
10 vs Tonga – James Pritchard 2011

Most tries overall

6 D. T. H. van der Merwe 2007, 2011, 2015
4 Al Charron 1991, 1995, 1999
4 Morgan Williams 1999, 2007
3 Rod Snow 1995, 1999

Most tries in a game

2 vs Tonga – Pat Palmer 1987
2 vs Tonga – Paul Vaesen 1987
2 vs Namibia – Winston Stanley 1999
2 vs Namibia – Rod Snow 1999
2 vs Namibia – Kyle Nichols 1999
2 vs New Zealand – Conor Trainor 2011

Most penalty goals overall

Most penalty goals in a game

4 vs Tonga – Gareth Rees 2003
4 vs Romania – Gareth Rees 1995
4 vs Fiji – Gareth Rees 1999

Most drop goals in a game

2 vs France – Ander Monro 2011
1 vs Ireland – Gareth Rees 1987
1 vs Wales – Bobby Ross 2003
1 vs Fiji – Gareth Rees 1999
1 vs Romania – Gareth Rees 1995
1 vs France – Gareth Rees 1991
1 vs Romania – Gareth Rees 1991

References

^ Davidson, Neil (2018-03-20). "Canada's rugby men closer to confirming opponent for final Rugby World Cup qualifier". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
^ Canada vs Tonga 1987 World Rugby
^ Canada vs Ireland 1987 World Rugby
^ Canada vs Wales 1987 Scrum.com
^ Canada vs Wales 1987 Worldrugby.com
^ "NAMIBIA V CANADA MATCH CANCELLED". Rugby World Cup. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.

Works cited

Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN 1860746020.
Farr-Jones, Nick (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup. Australia Post. ISBN 0-642-36811-2.

[Star2019RWCq-1] Davidson, Neil (2018-03-20). "Canada's rugby men closer to confirming opponent for final Rugby World Cup qualifier". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-05-20.

[2] Canada vs Tonga 1987 World Rugby

[3] Canada vs Ireland 1987 World Rugby

[4] Canada vs Wales 1987 Scrum.com

[5] Canada vs Wales 1987 Worldrugby.com

[6] "NAMIBIA V CANADA MATCH CANCELLED". Rugby World Cup. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.

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