Ivory Coast at the Rugby World Cup

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Map of nations' best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments.

The Ivory Coast's only Rugby World Cup appearance was in 1995 when they were placed in Pool D with France, Scotland, and Tonga.

Their appearance in the 1995 Rugby World Cup was fairly notorious and controversial. In the opening game against Scotland, the Ivory Coast lost by 89 points to nil, a result which led many to question the inclusion of "minor" teams in the tournament. Worse still, three minutes into the third match, against Tonga, their winger Max Brito was crushed beneath several other players. Despite intensive care, Brito was left paralyzed below the neck.[1] He had caught a high ball that had been kicked up the field, and set off on a counter-attack.[2] He was tackled by Inoke Afeaki, the Tonga flanker, before a ruck formed over him. The ruck collapsed and several players fell on top of Brito, leaving him prone and motionless on the ground.[3] Brito was taken to the intensive care unit of the Unitas Hospital in Pretoria with broken vertebrae.[4] Operations were carried out to stabilize the fourth and fifth vertebrae, but Brito was left paralyzed below the neck.

In a 2007 interview, Brito was portrayed as living an unhappy life. He was quoted as saying that

...It is now 12 years since I have been in this state. I have come to the end of my tether... If one day I fall seriously ill, and if I have the strength and courage to take my own life, then I will do it...This bloody handicap - it's my curse. It kills me and I will never accept it. I can't live with it and it's going to be with me for the rest of my life."[3]

Brito's injury raised concerns about the presence of such teams in a rugby union environment on the brink of professionalisation.[2]

By position[edit]

Rugby World Cup Qualification
Year Round Pld W D L PF PA Squad Pos Pld W D L PF PA
New Zealand Australia 1987 Not Invited No qualifying tournament held
England France Ireland Scotland Wales 1991 Did not qualify 4th 3 0 0 3 20 45
South Africa 1995 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 29 172 Squad 1st 5 4 0 1 83 58
Wales 1999 Did not qualify 4th 3 0 0 3 16 60
Australia 2003 3rd 2 0 0 2 29 36
France 2007 2nd 6 3 1 2 110 64
New Zealand 2011
England 2015
Japan 2019
Total Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 29 172
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue

Overall record[edit]

 Country Pld W D L F A +/- %
 Tonga 1 - - 1 11 29 -18 0
 France 1 - - 1 18 54 -36 0
 Scotland 1 - - 1 0 89 -89 0
TOTAL 3 - - 3 29 172 -143 0

1995 Rugby World Cup[edit]

Pool D matches -

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 France 3 3 0 0 114 47 +67 9
 Scotland 3 2 0 1 149 27 +122 7
 Tonga 3 1 0 2 44 90 −46 5
 Ivory Coast 3 0 0 3 29 172 −143 3
Source: [citation needed]
26 May 1995
Ivory Coast 0 – 89 Scotland
Tries: G. Hastings (4), Logan (2), Walton (2), Wright, Chalmers, Stanger, Burnell, Shiel
Con: G. Hastings (9)
Pen: G. Hastings (2)
Olympia Park, Rustenburg
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Felise Vito (Western Samoa)

30 May 1995
France 54 – 18 Ivory Coast
Tries: Lacroix (2), Benazzi, Téchoueyres, Viars, Accoceberry, Saint-André, Costes
Con: Deylaud (2), Lacroix (2)
Pen: Lacroix (2)
Tries: Soulama, Camara
Con: Kouassi
Pen: Kouassi (2)
Olympia Park, Rustenburg
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Han Moon-Soo (South Korea)

3 June 1995
Ivory Coast 11 – 29 Tonga
Tries: Okou
Pen: Dali (2)
Tries: 'Otai, Tu'ipulotu, Latukefu
Con: Tu'ipulotu (3)
Pen: Tu'ipulotu
Olympia Park, Rustenburg
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Don Reordan (United States)

  • Côte d'Ivoire player Max Brito was left a quadriplegic after suffering a cervical spine injury in this match.

Team Records[edit]

Highest Team Score
Biggest Score Against
Worst Losing Margin

Individual Records[edit]

Most Points
Most Points in a Game
Most Tries
Most Drop Goals

References[edit]

  • 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. ^ Pirate Irwin (4 October 2007). "Max Brito at end of tether after 12-year struggle". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b Rugby World Cup History – The Plight of Max Brito Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine Talking Rugby Union. 29-08-11. Accessed 20-09-11
  3. ^ a b "Max Brito at end of tether after 12-year struggle". Mail & Guardian (South Africa). 2007-10-04.
  4. ^ L’Historique du Biscarrosse Olympique Rugby Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine Biscarrosse Rugby. Accessed 19-09-11