Rugby World Cup 2003 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Telstra

Telstra stadium was named Stadium Australia when it was built in the 1990s (for the 2000 Olympic Games), and was situated at Homebush, a suburb of Sydney. The rugby final saw 82,957 spectactors file into the stadium to watch the final between Australia and England. This was a record for any rugby final.

Answer: 14-14

England were leading until the last minute when Australia were awarded a penalty. It spite of the tension which filled the stadium, Elton Flatley kept his nerve and successfully kicked the ball between the uprights to bring the full time game to a draw.

Answer: true

President Chirac upset and bemused quite a few English fans by claiming it was a good result for northern hemisphere rugby teams. Many thought he was trying to take some of the credit for the win.

Answer: Jonny Wilkinson

Apart from Jason Robinson making the only English try in the match, all the other points were earned by Jonny Wilkinson and his magical boot.

Answer: 44 days

During the whole tournament, the total attendance for all matches was 1,837,547. The viewing audience for the final was estimated at more than 300 million worldwide.

Answer: William Webb Ellis cup

William Webb Ellis was the schoolboy at Rugby school in Warwickshire, who while playing a game of football, picked up the ball and ran with it, and so rugby was born. Others say they he was merely demonstrating the Irish game of 'caid'. William had lived in Ireland during the time his father was in the army there.

Answer: silver gilt and gold

The cup was made by Garrard & Co of London. It was modeled on a rugby trophy designed by Paul de Laremie in 1906, and made by Carrington & Co of London. World supremacy is symbolised by the gold exterior.

Answer: Bill

When Australia won the trophy in 1991 one of their players, Anthony Herbert nicknamed it "Bill", after William Webb Ellis. In 1999, the theme for the tournament was, "Bring back Bill".

Answer: 1987

The idea for the Rugby World Cup came seperately from the rugby unions of Australia and New Zealand. Both wanted it to start in different years, so a compromise was reached and the first tournament began in 1987. The tournament takes place every four years.

Answer: Sweet Chariot

This song has been sung at rugby grounds for many years. How it started or why it was chosen nobody knows. The song is thought to have been written by the daughter of a former slave by the name of Ella Sheppard.

Answer: a welcoming crowd

Although the team arrived back at 5 a.m., over 8,000 people had crowded into the airport to cheer them home. While they were in Australia, the team had little idea of the impact their performance was making back home.

Answer: Trafalgar Square

It was a cold Monday morning in December when the team in three open topped buses began their journey through the london streets. Cold as it might have been, the crowds who lined the streets were oblivious of the weather. The Metropolitan Police estitmated that 750,000 people or more lined the streets. For a couple of hours that part of London was a sea of red and white as the cross of St. George hung from every possible place. Later the team went to tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and that evening a reception was held for them at 10 Downing Street.

Answer: The Times

Seeing as Rupert Murdoch was both the owner of The Times and an Australian, the comment was only to be expected.

Answer: Prince Harry

Prince Harry's obvious joy everytime the England team won a match was plain for anyone to see. Some people thought he should have been more unbiased in his support, but they weren't England fans.

Answer: an M.B.E

Jonny Wilkinson was already awarded the honour before the Rugby World Cup. It was given to him for his services to rugby.