This article lists the official squads for the 1987 Rugby World Cup that took place in New Zealand and Australia from 22 May until 20 June 1987. The 1987 Rugby World Cup was the inaugural Rugby World Cup; the world championship for rugby union. Sixteen nations were invited to partake in the tournament, with the notable exception of South Africa; who were excluded from the tournament due to issues surrounding Apartheid.
Players marked (c) were named as captain for their national squad. All details, such as number of international caps and player age, are current as of the opening day of the tournament on 22 May 1987.
Overview
editBelow is a table listing all the head coaches and captains for each nation.
Pool 1
editHead coach: 
Alan Jones
Head coach: 
George Hook / 
Ron Mayes
Head coach: 
Martin Green
Head coach: 
Katsumi Miyaji
Pool 2
editHead coach: 
Tony Gray
Head coach: 
Gary Johnston
- Prior to the tournament, Nigel Carr withdrew from the Ireland squad due to injury.
Head coaches: 
Mick Doyle (replaced by Syd Millar) / Jim Davidson
Head coach: 
Mailefihi Tuku'aho
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amone Afu | Hooker | circa 1957 (aged 29–30) | 8 | Police |
| Takai Makisi | Prop | circa 1962 (aged 24–25) | 2 | n/a |
| Latu Vaʻeno | Prop | circa 1959 (aged 27–28) | 3 | Ha'ateiho |
| Viliami Lutua | Prop | circa 1956 (aged 30–31) | 3 | Tonga Police Force |
| Hakatoa Tupou | Prop | circa 1959 (aged 27–28) | 6 | Hihifo |
| Soakai Motuʻapuaka | Prop | circa 1953 (aged 33–34) | 2 | Tonga Police Force |
| Kasi Fine | Lock | 20 March 1964 (aged 23) | 0 | Ha'ateiho |
| Polutele Tuʻihalamaka | Lock | 7 September 1949 (aged 37) | 13 | n/a |
| Mofuike Tuʻungafasi | Lock | circa 1963 (aged 23–24) | 13 | Tonga Defence Service/Hihifo |
| Fakahau Valu (c) | Flanker | 1 July 1950 (aged 36) | 22 | Hihifo |
| Taipaleti Tuʻuta | Flanker | circa 1964 (aged 22–23) | 0 | Hihifo/Tongatapu |
| Sione Tahaafe | Number 8 | 8 July 1958 (aged 28) | 0 | Eastwood Rugby Club |
| Maliu Filise | Number 8 | circa 1958 (aged 28–29) | 2 | Ha'ateiho |
| Kini Fotu | Number 8 | circa 1965 (aged 21–22) | 0 | Tonga College |
| Manu Vunipola | Scrum-half | circa 1967 (aged 19–20) | 0 | Toa-ko-Ma'afu R.F.C./Kolomotu'a |
| Talai Fifita | Scrum-half | 24 July 1962 (aged 24) | 6 | Hihifo/Tongatapu |
| Taliaʻuli Liavaʻa | Fly-half | circa 1970 (aged 16–17) | 0 | Toloa Old Boys |
| Lemeki Vaipulu | Fly-half | circa 1961 (aged 25–26) | 0 | n/a |
| Asa Amone | Centre | 8 January 1966 (aged 21) | 0 | Tonga Police Force |
| Samiu Mohi | Centre | circa 1962 (aged 24–25) | 3 | Hihifo |
| Alamoni Liavaʻa | Centre | circa 1959 (aged 27–28) | 12 | Hihifo |
| Talanoa Kitekeiʻaho | Wing | circa 1958 (aged 28–29) | 1 | Hihifo |
| Quddus Fielea | Wing | 1 July 1967 (aged 19) | 0 | Haʻapai |
| Soane Asi | Wing | circa 1963 (aged 23–24) | 0 | St. Andrews Old Boys |
| Liueli Fusimalohi | Fullback | circa 1966 (aged 20–21) | 0 | ʻEua |
| Tali Ete'aki | Fullback | circa 1963 (aged 23–24) | 4 | Hihifo/Tongatapu |
Pool 3
editHead coaches: Brian Lochore
- Andy Dalton was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury in a practice session. As a result, David Kirk assumed the role of captain.[2]
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Head coaches: 
Josateki Sovau and George Simpkin
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusiate Namoro | Hooker | circa 1966 (aged 21–22) | 20 | Suva |
| Salacieli Naivilawasa | Hooker | 14 February 1961 (aged 26) | 1 | Suva |
| Epeli Rakai | Hooker | circa 1961 (aged 25–26) | 15 | Suva |
| Mosese Taga | Hooker | 17 September 1964 (aged 22) | 0 | Suva |
| Sairusi Naituku | Prop | 26 February 1961 (aged 26) | 6 | Rewa |
| Peni Volavola | Prop | 6 June 1963 (aged 23) | 5 | Nadi |
| Aisake Nadolo | Lock | 13 July 1964 (aged 22) | 0 | Suva |
| Ilaitia Savai | Lock | 12 July 1960 (aged 26) | 8 | Nadroga |
| Jioji Cama | Lock | 0 | Fiji Police | |
| Manasa Qoro | Flanker | 8 February 1964 (aged 23) | 0 | Nadi |
| Samuela Vunivalu | Flanker | circa 1957 (aged 29–30) | 0 | Suva |
| Livai Kididromo | Flanker | circa 1959 (aged 27–28) | 0 | Suva |
| Apisai Nagata | Flanker | 0 | Nadi | |
| Koli Rakoroi (c) | Number 8 | 1 July 1956 (aged 30) | 15 | Suva |
| John Sanday | Number 8 | circa 1960 (aged 26–27) | 0 | Suva |
| Peceli Gale | Number 8 | 27 June 1957 (aged 29) | 7 | Nadi |
| Pauliasi Tabulutu | Scrum-half | 15 July 1967 (aged 19) | 3 | Nabua |
| Paulo Nawalu | Scrum-half | 18 October 1958 (aged 28) | Suva | |
| Elia Rokowailoa | Fly-half | 22 July 1958 (aged 28) | 7 | Fiji Army |
| Sirilo Lovokuro | Centre | circa 1965 (aged 21–22) | 3 | Suva |
| Epineri Naituku | Centre | 8 January 1963 (aged 24) | 0 | Nasinu |
| Tom Mitchell | Centre | 10 May 1958 (aged 29) | 2 | Fiji Army |
| Kaiava Salusalu | Centre | 8 May 1957 (aged 30) | 9 | Suva |
| Serupepeli Tuvula | Wing | circa 1963 (aged 23–24) | 4 | Teachers-Norths/Queensland |
| Tomasi Cama | Wing | 21 February 1961 (aged 26) | 4 | Suva |
| Kavekini Nalaga | Wing | circa 1965 (aged 21–22) | 1 | Nadroga |
| Jimi Damu | Wing | 15 July 1967 (aged 19) | 3 | Grammar Carlton/Auckland |
| Severo Koroduadua | Fullback | 22 December 1960 (aged 26) | 10 | Suva |
| Jone Kubu | Fullback | circa 1961 (aged 25–26) | 5 | Rewa |
Head coach: 
Marco Bollesan
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Head coaches: 
Héctor Silva / Ángel Guastella
Before the match against New Zealand, Martín Yangüela withdrew due to an injury and was replaced by Marcelo Faggi.
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Pool 4
editHead coach: 
Jacques Fouroux
Head Coach: 
Derrick Grant
Head coach: 
Mihai Naca
Head coach: 
Brian Murphy
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Bell | Hooker | 10 December 1958 (aged 28) | 1 | n/a |
| Lance Bray | Hooker | circa 1960 | 6 | n/a |
| Alex Nicholls | Prop | 4 August 1958 (aged 28) | 9 | Mashonaland |
| Andy Tucker | Prop | 11 March 1960 (aged 27) | 7 | n/a |
| George Elcombe | Prop | 7 October 1959 (aged 27) | 2 | n/a |
| Michael Martin | Lock | 25 December 1959 (aged 27) | 9 | n/a |
| Malcolm Sawyer | Lock | circa 1960 | 3 | n/a |
| Neville Kloppers | Lock | circa 1962 | 3 | Old Johnians RFC/Mashonaland |
| Grant Davidson | Lock | 15 January 1963 (aged 24) | 2 | n/a |
| Errol Bredenkamp | Flanker | circa 1961 | 0 | n/a |
| Rod Gray | Flanker | circa 1961 | 5 | n/a |
| Dirk Buitendag | Flanker | 6 April 1960 (aged 27) | 3 | Mashonaland |
| Mark Neill | Number 8 | circa 1965 | 3 | n/a |
| Malcolm Jellicoe (c) | Scrum-half | 29 May 1963 (aged 23) | 3 | Mashonaland |
| Craig Brown | Fly-half | 1 February 1968 (aged 19) | 15 | n/a |
| Marthinus Grobler | Fly-half | circa 1967 | 3 | Moseley RFC' |
| Richard Tsimba | Centre | 9 July 1965 (aged 21) | 11 | Chaminuka R.F.C. |
| Campbell Graham | Centre | circa 1963 | 0 | n/a |
| Andre Buitendag | Centre | 26 February 1962 (aged 25) | 3 | Mashonaland |
| Peter Kaulback | Wing | 26 October 1963 (aged 23) | 2 | n/a |
| Eric Barrett | Wing | 15 June 1951 (aged 35) | 3 | Old Hararians |
| Shawn Graham | Wing | circa 1961 | 1 | n/a |
| Andy Ferreira | Fullback | 26 June 1961 (aged 25) | 16 | Old Georgians RFC/Mashonaland |
| Kenyon Ziehl | Fullback | 11 January 1963 (aged 24) | 12 | n/a |
References
edit- ^ Lemon, Eric; Jenkins, John M. (2022-12-31). They Played Rugby for Wales 1881-2022. Eric Lemon. ISBN 978-0-6453626-2-6.
- ^ "All Blacks At The World Cup". AllBlacks.com. 26 November 2003. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2007.
- ^ PACNEWS - News Reader
- ^ El plantel de los Pumas en la RWC 1987
- ^ Fracaso Puma, victoria para el rugby