▁one ▁place ▁each , ▁with ▁the ▁last ▁place ▁determined ▁by ▁a ▁play - off . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁first ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁the ▁tournament ▁of ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁held ▁no ▁qual ifying ▁tournament . ▁Instead , ▁all ▁the ▁then ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁International ▁Rugby ▁Board ▁( then , ▁IF R B ) ▁were ▁automatically ▁included ▁in ▁the ▁competition . ▁These ▁members ▁account ed ▁for ▁seven ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 6 ▁available ▁positions . ▁The ▁remaining ▁positions ▁were ▁filled ▁by ▁inv itation . ▁ ▁The ▁next ▁tournament , ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁implemented ▁a ▁qual ifying ▁process . ▁E ight ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 6 ▁available ▁positions ▁were ▁filled ▁by ▁nations ▁automatically , ▁however , ▁the ▁remaining ▁positions ▁would ▁be ▁determined ▁by ▁a ▁ 2 5 ▁nation ▁qual ifying ▁tournament . ▁The ▁following ▁tournament , ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁increased ▁the ▁qual ifying ▁tournament ▁to ▁ 4 3 ▁nations . ▁ ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁the ▁eight ▁previous ▁quarter final ists , ▁hosts ▁South ▁Africa ▁were ▁granted ▁automatic ▁entry . ▁ ▁The ▁approach ▁changed ▁again ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁as ▁only ▁the ▁hosts ▁and ▁the ▁def ending ▁champions , ▁the ▁run ners - up , ▁the ▁third ▁place ▁play - off ▁w inners ▁from ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁cup ▁were ▁to ▁gain ▁automatic ▁entry , ▁as ▁opposed ▁to ▁the ▁el ite ▁eight ▁nations . ▁The ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁world ▁cup