Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup

Updated on Dec 28, 2023

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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.

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.

Uruguay played in Pool A. 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'.

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

Uruguay at the Rugby World Cup Wikipedia

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