The 2007 Rugby World Cup was played in France between 7 September and 20 October 2007. Each of the 20 competing nations was required to confirm their 30-man squad by 14 August. United States player

Thretton Palamo Thretton Palamo (born September 22, 1988) is an American rugby union player who plays centre for Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby (MLR). When he appeared in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he became the youngest ever player to have played in the Rug ...

, aged 18 when the teams were named and 8 days past his 19th birthday when he made his only appearance in the competition, was the youngest to ever take part at a World Cup final stage.

Pool A

England

Final squad released on 13 August 2007.

Jamie Noon Jamie Darren Noon (born 9 May 1979 in Goole) is a retired rugby union footballer who played at centre. Career Hard-running centre Noon joined the Newcastle Falcons for the 1998-99 Allied Dunbar Premiership, after a letter from one of his sch ...

was sent home injured on 15 September; he was replaced by

Newcastle Falcons Newcastle Falcons is a rugby union team that play in Premiership Rugby, England's highest division of rugby union. The club was established in 1877 as the Gosforth Football Club. Around 1882 the club merged with the Northumberland Football Cl ...

team-mate,

Toby Flood Tobias Gerald Albert Cecil Lieven Flood (born 8 August 1985) is an English rugby union coach and former player. He is currently kicking and skills coach at Newcastle Falcons in Premiership Rugby. During his playing career his position was Fly- ...

. After

Josh Lewsey Owen Joshua Lewsey MBE (born 30 November 1976) is an English former rugby union player who represented England and the British and Irish Lions. Lewsey is a former British Army Officer. Background and early life Lewsey was born in Bromley, L ...

was injured in the semi-final against

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

Nick Abendanon Nick Abendanon (born 27 August 1986 in Bryanston, South Africa) is a former England international rugby union player. His preferred position was full-back. He has Dutch nationality through his parents. Abendanon burst onto the scene during the ...

was called up as cover. Head coach: Brian Ashton

Samoa

Final squad announced on 29 August 2007. *

Filipo Levi Filipo Levi is the former International Rugby Captain for Manu Samoa and has captained teams from a local and international stage since 2000 until 2013. Filipo experience and knowledge is understanding business leaders unique challenges from a ...

and Donald Kerslake were replaced by Tani Fuga and Alfie Vaeluaga before the tournament * Sailosi Tagicakibau replaced Anitelia Tuilagi, ahead of the Tonga game. * Fosi Pala'amo was called in to replace Justin Va'a for the England game. * Na'ama Leleimalefaga was called into the squad to replace Fosi Pala'amo for the USA game. Head coach: Michael Jones

South Africa

Squad released 21 July 2007

Pierre Spies Pierre Johan Spies (born 8 June 1985 in Pretoria) is a retired South African rugby union player. He usually played as a Number 8, but could also play as a flanker and at times was deployed on the wing. Between 2005 and 2015, he spent the major ...

was withdrawn from the squad after developing a condition believed to be a

pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream ( embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include shortness of breath, chest pain particularly upon breathin ...

, with Bismarck du Plessis taking his place, although one specialist disputed the diagnosis. A third specialist confirmed the original diagnosis, and Spies remained off the team. On 10 September, after South Africa's match against

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...

Jean de Villiers Jean de Villiers (born 24 February 1981) is a South African former professional rugby union player. He started his career at wing, but played most of his career as an inside centre. De Villiers previously played for Western Province in the ...

was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a torn left biceps suffered in that match.

Wayne Julies Wayne Julies (born 23 October 1978 in Paarl) is a South African rugby union footballer. He has played for the national team, the Springboks nine times. He made his debut for South Africa at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, in a match against Spain. His ...

replaced him on the squad. On 1 October,

Jannie du Plessis Jan Nathaniel du Plessis (born 16 November 1982 in Bethlehem, Free State) is a South African rugby union player, who plays as a prop for in the French Top 14 and the Lions in Super Rugby. He played for the in the Currie Cup and the in Super ...

, older brother of Bismarck du Plessis, replaced

BJ Botha Brendon James Botha, better known as BJ Botha (born 4 January 1980) is a South African former rugby union player. He played as a prop. Professional career Sharks Botha played in the Currie Cup and Super 14 the Sharks. He played in all 13 Su ...

, who tore knee ligaments in South Africa's last pool match against the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. Head coach:

Jake White Jake White (born 13 December 1963 as ''Jacob Westerduin'') is a professional rugby union coach and former coach of the South African national team – the ''Springboks'' – whom he coached to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tr ...

Tonga

Squad announced on 10 August 2007 Kisi Pulu replaced Mosese Moala, while Maama Molitika was called up to replace Paino Hehea ahead of the England game. Head coach: Quddus Fielea

United States

Squad released 14 August 2007 John van der Giessen was called up to replace Luke Gross. Head coach: Peter Thorburn The following players are in reserve in case of injury.

Pool B

Australia

Squad announced 23 July 2007.

Mark Gerrard Mark Gerrard (born 4 September 1982) is a former Australian professional rugby union footballer. He currently is the assistant coach for the Austin Gilgronis in Major League Rugby (MLR) competition in the United States. In 2011, he was one o ...

was injured in the opening game and replaced by Cameron Shepherd.

Morgan Turinui Morgan Turinui (born 5 January 1982 in Sydney) is an Australian rugby union footballer who currently is a rugby commentator for Stan Sport and Channel Nine in Australia. Early life Turinui was educated at the Sydney school of Waverley College. ...

was called up on October 1, 2007 to replace Number 8 David Lyons. Head coach: John Connolly The following players are on reserve in case of injuries in the main squad

Canada

Final squad announced 15 August 2007. Josh Jackson replaced Jamie Cudmore who was ruled out with a broken bone in his hand. Head coach: Ric Suggitt

Fiji

Final squad announced 22 July 2007. Filimoni Bolavucu was ruled out of the tournament and was replaced by

Sireli Bobo Isireli Bobo (born 28 January 1976), is a Fijian rugby union footballer. Early career Early in his career, he played for Grupo Dramático e Sportivo Cascais, a Portuguese team. He was in the Nawaqavesi 7s and was subsequently picked to play at ...

. Head coach:

Ilivasi Tabua Ilivasi Sevia Tabua Tamanivalu (born 30 September 1964 in Naivicula) is a Fijian former rugby union footballer who played at international level for both Fiji and Australia as a flanker. He was nicknamed The Human Skewer. He also coached Fiji ...

Japan

Squad released 11 August 2007. Mitsugu Yamamoto replaced by Yusuke Aoki on 21 August.

Daisuke Ohata is a former Japanese rugby union player. He usually played on the wing, and sometimes at centre, for the Japanese national team. He made his name internationally as a speedy ace in the World Rugby Sevens Series (then known as the IRB World Sevens ...

tore his left

Achilles tendon The Achilles tendon or heel cord, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is a tendon at the back of the lower leg, and is the thickest in the human body. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcaneus ( ...

in Japan's final warm-up against

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

, and was replaced by Tomoki Kitagawa. Head coach: John Kirwan The following players are on reserve in case of injury.

Wales

Squad announced 10 August 2007 Head coach:

Gareth Jenkins Gareth John James Jenkins (born 11 September 1951) is a former Welsh rugby union rugby player, and former head coach of the Welsh national team. After a long and distinguished career at Llanelli RFC, Jenkins was appointed Wales coach in 2006, s ...

Pool C

Italy

Squad released 16 August 2007. Carlo Del Fava withdrew due to injury on 17 August. Fabio Staibano was originally announced as his replacement, but he was in turn ruled out due to injury. Del Fava was later ruled fit to play, and was restored to the squad on 27 August. Silvio Orlando replaced

Robert Barbieri Robert Julian Barbieri (born 5 June 1984) is a retired Canadian-born Italian rugby union player. He played as a flanker. He decided to represent Italy. Club career He played for Yeomen (2000–03) in Canada, before moving to the Italian side Ov ...

after he was ruled out due to injury in a warm-up game. Head coach:

Pierre Berbizier Pierre Berbizier (born 17 June 1958) is a French former rugby union footballer and a current coach. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played 56 times for France. Biography Berbizier was born in Saint-Gaudens. He made his international deb ...

New Zealand

Squad announced 22 July 2007 Head coach:

Graham Henry Sir Graham William Henry (born 8 June 1946) is a New Zealand rugby union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. Nicknamed 'Ted', he led New Zealand to win the 2011 World Cup. Henry played rugby union for ...

Portugal

Squad announced 15 August 2007 Head coach: Tomaz Morais

Romania

Squad announced 14 August 2007 Head coach:

Daniel Santamans Daniel Santamans (4 September 1959 in Lombez – 26 July 2008 in Cugnaux) was a French former rugby union player, as a hooker, and coach. He played for Blagnac SCR and for Stade Toulousain, from 1977 to 1989, where he won 3 titles of French Ch ...

Scotland

Squad announced 14 August 2007. On 11 September, his 24th birthday,

Alasdair Dickinson Alasdair Dickinson (born 11 September 1983) is a Scottish rugby union coach. He was previously a Scotland international rugby union player; and played for the clubs Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester and Sale Sharks. He played as a prop. Rugby Uni ...

was called up to the Scotland squad to replace the injured Allan Jacobsen. Head coach:

Frank Hadden Frank Hadden (born 14 June 1954) is a Scottish rugby union coach. He is a former head coach of Scotland and Edinburgh Rugby. Hadden replaced Matt Williams and was appointed on 15 September 2005. Hadden coached the Merchiston Castle School 1st ...

Pool D

Argentina

Squad released 28 July 2007 fro
Planet-Rugby
Additional information fro

Martín Gaitán was forced to withdraw from the squad on 18 August after it was discovered he had a blocked artery in his heart, and was replaced by Hernán Senillosa. José María Núñez Piossek was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury on 30 August, and was replaced by Federico Martín Aramburú.

Mario Ledesma Mario Ledesma Arocena (born 17 May 1973 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine rugby union coach and a former international rugby player. He played in Argentina's successful 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign and had a professional playing career in France s ...

was forced to withdraw from the squad for the third-place match against France due to injury on 15 October, and was replaced by Eusebio Guiñazú. Head coach:

Marcelo Loffreda Marcelo Loffreda (born May 17, 1959, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine former rugby union footballer and coach. Loffreda won 44 caps with one as captain, playing at centre for the Argentine rugby union side (''los Pumas''). He played muc ...

France

Provisional squad announced 14 June 2007, fro
Planet-Rugby

Elvis Vermeulen Elvis Vermeulen is a former French rugby union footballer. He played for ASM Clermont Auvergne and CA Brive in the top level of French rugby, the Top 14 competition. He has also played for the French national team, earning his first cap on 16 J ...

replaced by

Thierry Dusautoir Thierry Dusautoir (; born 18 November 1981) is a French former rugby union player who last played for France at international level and Toulouse in the French Top 14 club competition. Dusautoir was considered a strong ball carrier and possessed i ...

due to injury on 21 Jun
Planet-Rugby
Sylvain Marconnet was replaced due to injury by Nicolas Mas on 20 Augus
BBC Sport
Head coach:

Bernard Laporte Bernard Laporte (born 1 July 1964) is a rugby player, coach and former French Secretary of State for Sport. From 1999 to 2007, Laporte was the head coach of the France national team. In 2011, he became the head coach at Toulon, after Philippe Sa ...

The following players are on reserve in case of withdrawals from the squad.

Georgia

Final squad released on 9 August 2007 fro
Planet-Rugby
other details fro

Head coach:

Malkhaz Cheishvili Malkhaz Cheishvili ( ka, მალხაზ ჭეიშვილი) (born Tbilisi, 18 October 1959) is a Georgian rugby union coach. He was the coach of Georgia at the 2007 Rugby World Cup finals. He managed to lose by less than a try to Irel ...

Ireland

Squad listed fro
BBC Sport
12 August 2007, further information fro
Irish Rugby Football Union
Head coach:

Eddie O'Sullivan Eddie O'Sullivan (born 21 November 1958) is an Irish rugby union coach, player (wing & fly-half) and a former Gaelic footballer. He is a former head coach of the United States national rugby union team and of the Ireland national rugby union ...

Namibia

Squad released 18 July 2007 fro
Planet-Rugby
additional information fro

an
South Africa Rugby
Head coach: Hakkies Husselman

Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:2007 Rugby World Cup Squads Squads Rugby World Cup squads