Ivory Coast at the Rugby World Cup

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

Overall record

　Country Pld W D L F A +/- %
 Tonga 1--11129-180
 France 1--11854-360
 Scotland 1--1089-890
TOTAL 3--329172-1430

1995 Rugby World Cup

Pool D matches -

Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
 France 300114479
 Scotland 201149277
 Tonga 10244905
 Ivory Coast 003291723
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)

Team Records

Highest Team Score
Biggest Score Against
Worst Losing Margin

Individual Records

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

Hosting

So far the Ivory Coast has not hosted any World Cup games.

References

  1. ↑ Pirate Irwin (4 October 2007). "Max Brito at end of tether after 12-year struggle". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  2. 1 2 Rugby World Cup History – The Plight of Max Brito Talking Rugby Union. 29-08-11. Accessed 20-09-11
  3. 1 2 "Max Brito at end of tether after 12-year struggle". Mail & Guardian (South Africa). 2007-10-04.
  4. ↑ L’Historique du Biscarrosse Olympique Rugby Biscarrosse Rugby. Accessed 19-09-11
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