Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup

Uruguay has competed in four Rugby World Cup tournaments: 1999, 2003, 2015 and 2019.

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 43-15 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

Uruguay qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and won their opening game against Fiji 30-27.^[1]

By number of appearances[]

Nation	Number of appearances	First appearance	Most recent appearance	Streak	Best result
Uruguay	4	1999	2019	2	One win, 1999, 2003, 2019

Team	1987	1991	1995	1999	2003	2007	2011	2015	2019
	Australia and New Zealand	England	South Africa	Wales	Australia	France	New Zealand	England	Japan
	16	16	16	20	20	20	20	20	20
Uruguay	-	-	-	13th	16th	-	-	-	16th

1999 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)[]

Team v t	P	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
South Africa	3	3	0	132	35	9
Scotland	3	2	1	120	58	7
Uruguay	3	1	2	42	97	5
Spain	3	0	3	18	122	3

1999-10-02

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

Netherdale, Galashiels
Referee: Chris White

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),

Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Stuart Dickinson

1999-10-15

South Africa	39 – 3	Uruguay
Tries: (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

2003 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)[]

Team v t	Pld	W	L	TF	PF	PA	+/−	BP	Pts
England	4	4	0	34	255	47	+208	3	19
South Africa	4	3	1	27	184	60	+124	3	15
Samoa	4	2	2	18	138	117	+21	2	10
Uruguay	4	1	3	6	56	255	-199	0	4
Georgia	4	0	4	1	46	200	-154	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

2003-10-15

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

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

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

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

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.^[2]

Uruguay played in Pool A.^[3] 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 one qualifier, Fiji. The group has been called the 'group of death'. Uruguay lost all their pool matches without any bonus points.

20 September 2015
14:30

Wales	54–9	Uruguay
Try: Lee 15' c Allen (3) 19' c, 30' c, 40' c Amos 50' c Davies (2) 60' m, 80' c Tipuric 71' c Con: Priestland (7/8) 16', 19', 30', 40', 51', 72', 80'	Report	Pen: Berchesi (3/4) 2', 9', 24'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 71,887
Referee: Romain Poite (France)

27 September 2015
12:00

Australia	65–3	Uruguay
Try: McMahon (2) 7' m, 69' m Tomane 9' c Mumm 26' m Speight 31' c McCalman (2) 36' c, 61' c Mitchell (2) 47' m, 52' m Toomua 71' m Kuridrani 80' c Con: Cooper (5/11) 10', 32', 36', 62', 80'	Report	Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 24'

Villa Park, Birmingham
Attendance: 39,605
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

6 October 2015
20:00

Fiji	47–15	Uruguay
Try: Penalty try (2) 3' c, 27' c Kenatale 8' m Nakarawa 38' c Cavubati 64' c Murimurivalu 66' c Nadolo 79' c Con: Nadolo (6/7) 3', 28', 39', 65', 66', 80	Report	Try: Arboleya 17' c Ormaechea 58' m Con: Ormaechea (1/2) 18' Pen: Durán (1/1) 15'

Stadium mk, Milton Keynes
Attendance: 30,048
Referee: JP Doyle (England)

10 October 2015
20:00

England	60–3	Uruguay
Try: Watson (2) 7' c, 42' m Easter (3) 18' c, 23' c, 60' m Slade 54' m Nowell (3) 57' c, 70' m, 74' m Penalty try 80' c Con: Farrell (4/6) 8', 19', 25', 58' Ford (1/4) 80'	Report	Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 2'

City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Attendance: 50,778
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

Team v t	Pld	W	L	TF	PF	PA	+/−	BP	Pts
Australia	4	4	0	17	141	35	+106	1	17
Wales	4	3	1	11	111	62	+49	1	13
England	4	2	2	16	133	75	+58	3	11
Fiji	4	1	3	10	84	101	–17	1	5
Uruguay	4	0	4	2	30	226	–196	0	0

2019 Rugby World Cup[]

Uruguay qualified by beating Canada over two legs. Uruguay play in Pool D. They are joined by Australia, Wales, Georgia and Fiji. Uruguay won their first match of the pool, which was 30 – 27 against Fiji.

25 September 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)

(2 BP) Fiji	27–30	Uruguay
Try: Dolokoto 8' m Mawi 19' c Ratuniyarawa 48' m Matawalu (2) 67' m, 80+1' m Con: J. Matavesi (1/3) 20'	Report	Try: Arata 14' c Diana 22' c Cat 26' c Con: Berchesi (3/3) 15', 23', 28' Pen: Berchesi (3/4) 38', 61', 76'

Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Kamaishi
Attendance: 14,025
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

29 September 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Georgia	33–7	Uruguay
Try: Todua 9' m Giorgadze 30' c Chilachava 43' c Bregvadze 52' c Kveseladze 58' c Con: Abzhandadze (4/5) 30', 44', 53', 59'	Report	Try: Vilaseca 33' c Con: Berchesi (1/1) 34'

Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya
Attendance: 24,895
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

5 October 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Australia	45–10	Uruguay
Try: Haylett-Petty (2) 6' c, 68' m Petaia 24' c Kuridrani (2) 31' m, 46' c Genia 53' c Slipper 61' c Con: Lealiifano (5/7) 7', 25', 48', 55', 63'	Report	Try: Diana 79' c Con: Berchesi (1/1) 79' Pen: Berchesi (1/1) 13'

Oita Stadium, Ōita
Attendance: 33,781
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

13 October 2019
17:15 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Wales	35–13	Uruguay
Try: Smith 17' c Adams 49' c Penalty try 66' T. Williams 74' c G. Davies 80+5' c Con: Halfpenny (4/4) 18', 50', 75', 80+6'	Report	Try: Kessler 71' c Con: Berchesi (1/1) 72' Pen: Berchesi (2/2) 22', 39'

Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto
Attendance: 27,317
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Team v t	Pld	W	L	TF	PF	PA	+/−	BP	Pts
Wales	4	4	0	17	136	69	+67	3	19
Australia	4	3	1	20	136	68	+68	4	16
Fiji	4	1	3	17	110	108	+2	3	7
Georgia	4	1	3	9	65	122	−57	1	5
Uruguay	4	1	3	6	60	140	−80	0	4

Overall Record[]

Uruguay vs	Played	Win	Lost	Win %
England	2	0	2	0%
Georgia	1	1	1	50%
Samoa	1	0	1	0%
Scotland	1	0	1	0%
Spain	1	1	0	100%
South Africa	2	0	2	0%
Wales	2	0	2	0%
Australia	2	0	2	0%
Fiji	2	1	1	50%
Overall	15	3	12	20%

Team Records[]

Most Points in a Tournament

60 (2019 in Japan)
56 (2003 in Australia)
42 (1999 in Wales)
30 (2015 in New Zealand)

Most Points in a Game

30 vs Fiji (2019)
27 vs Spain (1999)
24 vs Georgia (2003)
15 vs Fiji (2015)
13 vs Samoa (2003)
13 vs England (2003)

Biggest Winning Margin

12 vs Spain (1999)
12 Vs Georgia (2003)
3 vs Fiji (2019)

Highest Score Against

111 vs England (2003)
72 vs South Africa (2003)
65 vs Australia (2015)
60 vs Samoa (2003)
60 vs England (2015)

Biggest Losing Margin

98 vs England (2003)
66 vs South Africa (2003)
62 vs Australia (2015)
57 vs England (2015)
47 vs Samoa (2003)

Most Tries in a Game

3 vs Spain (1999)
3 vs Georgia (2003)
3 vs Fiji (2019)
2 vs Samoa (2003)
2 vs Fiji (2015)

Individual Records[]

Most Appearances

8 Agustín Ormaechea ( England 2015, Japan 2019)
8 Andrés Vilaseca ( England 2015, Japan 2019)
8 Juan Manuel Gaminara ( England 2015, Japan 2019)
8 Rodrigo Silva ( England 2015, Japan 2019)

Most Points Overall

45 Felipe Berchesi ( England 2015, Japan 2019)
30 Diego Aguirre ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)
18 Juan Menchaca ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)
10 Alfonso Cardoso ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)
10 Pablo Lemoine ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)
10 Manuel Diana ( Japan 2019)

Most Points in a Game

15 vs Fiji - Felipe Berchesi ( Japan 2019)
9 vs Scotland - Diego Aguirre ( Wales 1999)
9 vs Wales - Felipe Berchesi ( England 2015)
8 vs England - Juan Menchaca ( Australia 2003)
8 vs Wales - Felipe Berchesi ( Japan 2019)

Most Tries Overall

2 Pablo Lemoine ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)
2 Alfonso Cardoso ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)
2 Manuel Diana ( Japan 2019)

Most Penalty Goals

11 Felipe Berchesi ( England 2015, Japan 2019)
8 Diego Aguirre ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)
3 Juan Menchaca ( Wales 1999, Australia 2003)

Most Penalty Goals in a Game

3 vs Scotland - Diego Aguirre ( Wales 1999)
3 vs Wales - Felipe Berchesi ( England 2015)
3 vs Fiji - Felipe Berchesi ( Japan 2019)
2 vs England - Juan Menchaca ( Australia 2003)
2 vs South Africa - Diego Aguirre ( Australia 2003)
2 vs Wales - Felipe Berchesi ( Japan 2019)

References[]

^ "Rugby World Cup: Fiji on brink of exit after Uruguay pull off stunning 30-27 win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
^ "Uruguay qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015" Archived 12 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, IRB.com, 11 October 2014.
^ "World Cup 2015 schedule". BBC Sport. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.

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)

[1] "Rugby World Cup: Fiji on brink of exit after Uruguay pull off stunning 30-27 win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2019.

[2] "Uruguay qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015" Archived 12 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, IRB.com, 11 October 2014.

[BBC_fixtures-3] "World Cup 2015 schedule". BBC Sport. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.

[1]

[2]

[3]

show v t National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup by tier
Tier 1 teams	Argentina Australia England France Ireland Italy New Zealand Scotland South Africa Wales
Tier 2 teams	Canada Fiji Georgia Japan Namibia Portugal Romania Russia Samoa Spain Tonga United States Uruguay
Tier 3 teams	Ivory Coast Zimbabwe

show v t Rugby union in Uruguay
Governing body	Unión de Rugby del Uruguay
National teams	Uruguay A Women's 7's U-20 South American Jaguars
Competitions	Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup Americas Rugby Championship Campeonato Argentino Campeonato Uruguayo de Rugby Punta Del Este Sevens South American Rugby Championship South American Junior Rugby Championship PARA Pan American Championship UruCup
Related articles	1960 French tour 1985 French tour Flight 571
Related articles	International players