Rugby is unlike any other sport, though, and one of its tournaments managed to change its entire face not once, but twice.
Today we look back 20 years and all agree that the sport becoming professional as a result of the 1995 Rugby World Cup made the game almost unrecognisable from what it was before. In 20 years’ time we will look back at the 2015 version and all agree that another seismic shift has happened.
"Rugby World Cup 2015 will be remembered as the biggest tournament to date, but I also believe that it will be remembered as the best,” said World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset soon after Saturday’s final whistle. For once, it is tough to disagree with a sport body’s boasts after hosting a tournament.
It certainly was big.
