Uruguay has competed in five Rugby World Cup tournaments: 1999, 2003, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
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.
Uruguay qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and won their opening game against Fiji 30–27.
NationNumber of appearancesFirst appearanceMost recent appearanceStreakBest result 5199920232One win (1999, 2003, 2019, 2023)
By position
1999 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)
2003 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)
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 one qualifier, Fiji. The group has been called the "group of death". Uruguay lost all their pool matches without any bonus points.
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.
2023 Rugby World Cup
Overall record
Uruguay vs Played Win Draw Lost Win % 2 0 0 2 0% 2 0 0 2 0% 2 1 0 1 50% 1 0 0 1 0% 2 1 0 1 50% 1 0 0 1 0% 1 1 0 0 100% 1 0 0 1 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 1 0 0 1 0% 1 1 0 0 100% 2 0 0 2 0% 2 0 0 2 0% Overall 19 4 0 15 21.05%
Team records
Most points in a tournament 65 (2023 in ) 60 (2019 in ) 56 (2003 in )
Most points in a game 36 vs (2023) 30 vs (2019) 27 vs (1999)
Biggest winning margin 12 vs (1999) 12 Vs (2003) 10 vs (2023)
Highest score against 111 vs (2003) 73 vs (2023) 72 vs (2003)
Biggest losing margin 98 vs (2003) 73 vs (2023) 66 vs (2003)
Most tries in a tournament 9 (2023 in ) 6 (2019 in ) 6 (2003 in )
Most tries in a game 5 vs (2023) 3 vs (1999) 3 vs (2003) 3 vs (2019)
Individual records Most appearances 12 Agustín Ormaechea ( 2015, 2019, 2023) 12 Andrés Vilaseca ( 2015, 2019, 2023) 11 Felipe Berchesi ( 2015, 2019, 2023) 11 Mateo Sanguinetti ( 2015, 2019, 2023) 10 German Kessler ( 2015, 2019, 2023)
Most appearances as Captain 5 Andrés Vilaseca ( 2019, 2023) 4 Diego Aguirre ( 2003) 4 Santiago Vilaseca ( 2015)
Most points overall 55 Felipe Berchesi ( 2015, 2019, 2023) 30 Diego Aguirre ( 1999, 2003) 18 Juan Menchaca ( 1999, 2003) 15 Baltazar Amaya ( 2023) 13 Felipe Etcheverry ( 2019, 2023)
Most points in a game 15 vs - Felipe Berchesi ( 2019) 10 vs - Baltazar Amaya ( 2023) 9 vs - Diego Aguirre ( 1999) 9 vs - Felipe Berchesi ( 2015) 8 vs - Juan Menchaca ( 2003) 8 vs - Felipe Berchesi ( 2019)
Most tries overall 3 Baltazar Amaya ( 2023) 2 Pablo Lemoine ( 1999, 2003) 2 Alfonso Cardoso ( 1999, 2003) 2 Santiago Arata ( 2019, 2023) 2 Manuel Diana ( 2019, 2023) 2 Nicolas Freitas ( 2019, 2023) 2 German Kessler ( 2019, 2023)
Most penalty goals 12 Felipe Berchesi ( 2015, 2019, 2023) 8 Diego Aguirre ( 1999, 2003) 3 Juan Menchaca ( 1999, 2003)
References