Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup

Uruguay has competed in three Rugby World Cup tournaments.

A huge success for them was qualifying for the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales. They won their pool fixture against Spain, finishing third in their pool. They qualified for the World Cup again in 2003, and won their pool fixture against Georgia, 24–12.

Uruguay's qualification for the 2007 World Cup started in Americas Round 3a, where they were pooled with Argentina and Chile. After losing their first match 26 points to nil to Argentina, they defeated Chile 43 to 15 in Montevideo, which saw them enter Round 4, where they faced the USA. Uruguay lost on aggregate, and moved on to the repechage round as Americas 4. They played Portugal over two legs - losing the first in Lisbon and winning the second in Montevideo. Portugal qualified on aggregate points. They again failed to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup final tournament.

Uruguay qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. They did not win any games during the tournament.

Map of countries' best results

By number of appearances

Nation	Number of appearances	First appearance	Most recent appearance	Streak	Best result
Uruguay	3	1999	2015	2	One win, 1999, 2003

Team	1987	1991	1995	1999	2003	2007	2011	2015
	Australia and New Zealand	England	South Africa	Wales	Australia	France	New Zealand	England
	16	16	16	20	20	20	20	20
Uruguay	-	-	-	13th	16th	-	-

1999 Rugby World Cup (Pool 1)

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
South Africa	3	0	0	132	35	6
Scotland	2	0	1	120	58	4
Uruguay	1	0	2	42	97	2
Spain	0	0	3	18	122	0

1999-10-02

Uruguay	27 – 15	Spain
Tries: Diego Ormaechea, Alfonso Cardoso, Juan Menchaca Con: Diego Aguirre, Federico Sciarra Pen: Diego Aguirre		Pen: Andrei Kovalenco (5)

Netherdale, Galashiels Referee: Chris White

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1999-10-08

Scotland	43 – 12	Uruguay
Tries: Robbie Russell, Gary Armstrong, Glenn Metcalfe, Martin Leslie, Gordon Simpson, Gregor Townsend Con: Kenny Logan (5) Pen: Kenny Logan		Pen: Diego Aguirre (3), Federico Sciarra

Murrayfield, Edinburgh Referee: Stuart Dickinson

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1999-10-15

South Africa	39 – 3	Uruguay
Tries: Albert van den Bergh (2), Joost van der Westhuizen, Deon Kayser, Robbie Fleck Con: Jannie de Beer (4) Pen: Jannie de Beer (2)		Pen: Diego Aguirre

Hampden Park, Glasgow Referee: Peter Marshall

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2003 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	BP	Points
England	4	0	0	255	47	3	19
South Africa	3	0	1	184	60	3	15
Samoa	2	0	2	138	117	2	10
Uruguay	1	0	3	56	255	0	4
Georgia	0	0	4	46	200	0	0

2003-10-11

South Africa	72 – 6	Uruguay
Tries: van der Westhuizen (3), van Niekerk, Botha, Delport, Fourie, Bands, Rossouw, Scholtz, Greef Con: Koen (5), Hougaard		Pen: Aguirre (2)

Subiaco Oval, Perth Attendance: 16,906 Referee: Paddy O'Brien

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2003-10-15

Samoa	60 – 13	Uruguay
Tries: Fa'asavalu (2), Lima (2), Tagicakibau, Fa'atau, Lemalu, Vili, Feaunati, Palepoi Con: Va'a (3), Vili (2)		Tries: Capó, Lemoine Pen: Aguirre

Subiaco Oval, Perth Attendance: 22,020 Referee: David McHugh

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2003-10-28

Georgia	12 – 24	Uruguay
Pen: Urjukashvili, Kvirikashvili (3)		Tries: Cardoso, Lamelas, Brignoni Con: Aguirre (2), Menchaca Pen: Juan Menchaca

Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 28,576 Referee: Kelvin Deaker

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2003-11-02

England	111 – 13	Uruguay
Tries: Moody, Lewsey (5), Balshaw (2), Catt (2), Gomarsall (2), Luger, Abbott, Robinson (2), Greenwood Con: Grayson (11), Catt (2)		Tries: Lemoine Con: Menchaca Pen: Menchaca (2)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 46,233 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse

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2007 Rugby World Cup

Did not qualify.

2011 Rugby World Cup

Did not qualify.

2015 Rugby World Cup

During 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying, Uruguay won the 2013 South American Rugby Championship "A", getting wins at the Estadio Charrúa against Brazil (58–7) and Chile (23–9). In March 2014, Uruguay faced the United States in a NACRA-CONSUR playoff for the last Americas qualification spot. Uruguay tied the home leg 27–27, but lost the away leg 32–13. Uruguay then moved to the repechage, where it defeated Hong Kong 28–3 at the Estadio Charrúa, to face Russia for the 20th and final spot at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Uruguay qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup by defeating Russia by an aggregate score of 57–49 in the two-game series, winning the second game at home 36–27 in front of 14,000 fans at the Charrua Stadium.^[1]

Uruguay played in Pool A.^[2] The pool was composed of hosts England, as well as the third- and fourth-placed teams from 2011, Australia and Wales. They were joined by two qualifiers, Fiji and Uruguay. The group has been called the 'group of death'.^[3]

Overall Record

Uruguay vs	Played	Win	Draw	Lost	Win %
England	1	0	0	1	0%
Georgia	1	1	0	0	100%
Samoa	1	0	0	1	0%
Scotland	1	0	0	1	0%
Spain	1	1	0	0	100%
South Africa	2	0	0	2	0%
Overall	7	2	0	5	28%

Team Records

Most Points in a Game

• 27 vs  Spain (1999)
• 24 vs  Georgia (2003)
• 13 vs  Samoa (2003)
• 13 vs  England (2003)
• 12 vs  Scotland (199)

Biggest Winning Margin

• 12 vs  Spain (1999)
• 12 Vs  Georgia (2003)

Highest Score Against

• 111 vs  England (2003)
• 72 vs  South Africa (2003)
• 60 vs  Samoa (2003)
• 43 vs  Scotland (1999)

Biggest Losing Margin

• 98 vs  England (2003)
• 66 vs  South Africa (2003)
• 47 vs  Samoa (2003)
• 36 vs  South Africa (1999)

Most Tries in a Game

• 3 vs  Spain (1999)
• 3 vs  Georgia (2003)
• 2 vs  Samoa (2003)
• 1 vs  England (2003)

Individual Records

Most Points Overall

• 30 Diego Aguirre (1999,2003)
• 20 Juan Menchaca (1999,2003)
• 10 Alfonso Cardoso (1999,2003)
• 10 Pablo Lemoine (1999,2003)
• 5 Federico Sciarra (1999)
• 5 Nicolas Brignoni (1999)
• 5 Diego Ormaechea (1999)
• 5 Rodrigo Capo (2003)
• 5 Diego Lamelas (1999,2003)

Most Points in a Game

• 9 vs  Scotland - Diego Aguirre (1999)
• 8 vs  England - Juan Menchaca (2003)
• 6 vs  South Africa - Diego Aguirre (2003)
• 5 vs  Spain - Diego Ormaechea (1999)
• 5 vs  Spain - Alfonso Cardoso (1999)
• 5 vs  Spain - Juan Menchaca (1999)
• 5 vs  Samoa - Rodrigo Capo Ortega (2003)
• 5 vs  Samoa - Pablo Lemoine (2003)
• 5 vs  Georgia - Alfonso Cardoso (2003)
• 5 vs  Georgia - Diego Lamelas (2003)
• 5 vs  Georgia - Nicolas Brignoni (2003)
• 5 vs  England - Pablo Lemoine (2003)

Most Tries Overall

• 2 Pablo Lemoine (1999,2003)
• 2 Alfonso Cardoso (1999,2003)
• 1 Diego Ormaechea (1999,2003)
• 1 Juan Menchaca (1999)
• 1 Rodrigo Capo Ortega (2003)
• 1 Diego Lamelas (2003)
• 1 Nicolas Brignoni (2003)

Most Penalty Goals

• 8 Diego Aguirre (1999,2003)
• 2 Juan Menchaca (1999,2003)
• 1 Federico Sciarra (1999)

Most Penalty Goals in a Game

• 3 vs  Scotland - Diego Aguirre 1999
• 2 vs  England - Juan Menchaca 2003
• 2 vs  South Africa - Diego Aguirre 2003

References

1. "Uruguay qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015", IRB.com, 11 October 2014.
2. "World Cup 2015 schedule". BBC Sport. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
3. "Back down to earth! From glory to pool of death for England after World Cup draw". Daily Mail. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2015.

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