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Rugby World Cup hosts since 1987

London - France has won the right to stage the 2023 World Cup after topping a poll of World Rugby Council members in London on Wednesday despite coming second to rival bidders South Africa in an evaluation report.

Below are the previous hosts and their performance ahead of the 2019 edition in Japan, as well as the tournament winners.

While home advantage has proved helpful for the likes of New Zealand and South Africa, the same cannot be said for European nations with England the only northern hemisphere country to have lifted the World Cup, doing so in Australia in 2003.

Rugby World Cup hosts (year, host nation, performance of host nation, champions)

1987: New Zealand - champions

1991: England - losing finalists. Champions: Australia

1995: South Africa - champions

1999: Wales - losing quarter-finalists. Champions: Australia

2003: Australia - losing finalists. Champions: England

2007: France - losing semi-finalists. Champions: South Africa

2011: New Zealand - champions

2015: England - knocked out in pool stage. Champions: New Zealand

2019: Japan

2023: France

Note: The 1991 edition was staged across several countries, but the final took place at Twickenham in London, while Wales and France were the main hosts in 1999 and 2007, but with some matches played abroad

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