Rugby World Cup: Hosts who left the party early

An Alec Stewart-led England side failed to advance past the group stage of the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Photo / Getty

With England on the verge of being eliminated from the Rugby World Cup, Chris Rattue looks other host nations of sports tournament who have failed to advance past the group play.

South Africa, 2010 football World Cup

The FIFA draw tries to help the hosts get past the pool stage. But South Africa couldn't take advantage after a tame draw in the opening match against Mexico set the tone.
Unfortunately, the orchestra of vuvuzelas did make it all the way through to the final. Taking the tournament to Africa, a slightly risky move, was deemed a success despite Bafana Bafana falling before the quarter-finals.

England, 1999 cricket World Cup

First the good news: England didn't lose to a minnow. But they did stuff up for one reason or another and ultimately, Zimbabwe's surprise victories against India and South Africa sent England packing before the Super Six stage. But wait, there's more. The official World Cup song by Dave Stewart - with the snappy title All Over the World - hit the shops the day after England were eliminated. Embarrassing, yes, appropriate, also yes. The 1999 tournament was a signpost to a more diverse international future for cricket, one less centred on England.

South Africa, 2003 cricket World Cup

Ooops. South African batsman Mark Boucher blocked what turned out to be the final ball of a rain-hit match against Sri Lanka, leaving the hosts one run short of their Duckworth-Lewis target for victory. Boucher had celebrated hitting a six off the previous ball but South Africa had misinterpreted what their target was on the Duckworth-Lewis memo. This eliminated the notorious cup chokers from the final stages. Fast bowler Allan Donald lamented: "It is something that we are going to have to live with and try to get over but it is going to take a long time."

Singapore, 2011 netball world championships

The scores make ugly reading, and luckily the netball no-hopers didn't have to play Australia or New Zealand in their group. But Singapore, who first staged the tournament in 1983, had already scored a victory over Australia for the hosting rights. Variety is the spice of life, and at least Singapore was outside the usual, well worn netball tracks.