The first inaugural Rugby World Cup tournament was in 1987.
Since then, this international competition has allowed the best rugby players to showcase their skills and talent. With many teams competing from around the globe to clinch the ultimate prize, it's not surprising that some of the greatest rugby moments in history occurred during this competition.
Since the popularity of the Rugby World Cup, other international tournaments have also emerged, like the Heineken Cup or the HSBC Seven Series. Although rugby has a short history compared to other sports, fans and even ordinary spectators can find dramatic upsets, memorable late clinchers, and unforgettable individual performances in these competitions. Check out some fantastic, inspiring, and memorable moments in rugby below.
The Heineken Cup kick-off event happened on October 31, 1995. Although it was the first-ever event, it was one for the books because of the exciting matches. Back then, 12 teams with representation from the following countries:
France
Ireland
Wales
Italy
Romania
Unfortunately, the English and Scottish teams snubbed this kick-off and refused to join the games until the next season's campaign. Nevertheless, if one were asked to write about it and find an essay writing service to do this, they would conclude that the Heineken cup is one for the books. Toulouse defeated Farul Constanta 56-28, garnering them as the first European Winner.
They also beat Cardiff in a dramatic overtime play amidst the excited cheers of 21,800 spectators. Today, both France and Leinster have a joint record with four victories.
Jonah Lomu entered the RWC in 1995. He was dubbed as the mountain man with his imposing height of 6 feet 5 inches. This young Kiwi also clocked in at 19 stone, making him a sight to behold. But even more remarkable, this young player was unstoppable against England in the semi-finals.
Many rugby fans remember that he pulverized the English defense team. He was like an impenetrable tank that steamrolled through the other players as if they were made of air. Mike Catt attested to this as Lomu flattened him in an attempt to score.
Wales has been considered a strong opponent with many remarkable players. Everyone expected Wales to win when the Wales and Western Samoa teams met on the field in RWC 1991. Moreover, Wales played with a home-court advantage, so everyone felt secure with a sure win.
Unfortunately for the Wales fans, the Samoans had other plans. They pulled off a shocking victory and crushed the Welsh in the tournament group stages. They even came out on top in a closely contested match with a final score in the Samoans' favor at 16-13. So the lesson here is don't be too confident, cocky, and complacent.
South Africa defeated New Zealand in a close match in 1995, scoring 15-12. It was seen as an event where rugby was a catalyst in uniting a racially divided country. That's because Nelson Mandela, who donned a Springbrooks Jersey, presented the highly coveted RWC trophy to Francois Pienaar.
This was said to be a symbol that the country has become a "Rainbow Nation." Nelson Mandela is not just a rugby fan, but he was acclaimed throughout the world for the following achievements:
Fighting apartheid in South Africa
Winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993
Being the first South African Black president from 1994 to 1999
His appearance in the ruby tournament is genuinely historical. It was a successful sign that his homeland had finally transitioned from heart-wrenching apartheid to a more accepting multiracial democracy.
Since Jonah Lomu's foray into rugby, everyone had high expectations for him. Hence, as the Kiwi's All Blacks went up against France in the semi-finals of 1999, everyone expected an easy victory for Lomu. Initially, things seem to be going in New Zealand's favor, with an early lead of 24-10.
France quashed everyone's expectations by scoring an astounding 33 points with no reply. Finally, at the critical point, Jeff Wilson was able to score a point during the consultation try. However, this wasn't enough to pull New Zealand out of its embarrassing performance. In the end, France won 43-31, making it one of the most historical upsets in RWC history.
There's nothing more gripping than a rugby game where players have a close fight. With the scoreboards fighting neck and neck, who will win the competition? In 2003, this was the state in the RWC with the English versus the Wallabies. Jonny Wilkinson made a memorable last-minute kick that made England win their first cup.
It was a narrow victory at 20-17. Just imagine that Wilkinson made a kick using his weaker right foot with a mere 20 seconds left on the clock. He was able to score. This is undoubtedly an unforgettable, hair-raising moment for many English fans since it was such a close call. As for the Wallabies, this was a disappointing loss they'd rather forget.
Since the inception of the Rugby World Cup, New Zealand has not won a cup. In October 2011, they were the host country and faced extreme pressure. They benched the leading top three Kiwi players due to injuries. The most dramatic moment happens at a game's halftime.
This devastating turn of events dumbfounded the whole country. Fortunately, Donald walked into the match. He was absent for five weeks and had been whitebait fishing in Waikato before he was asked to join the games. And Donald proved his strong mettle by scoring an essential point in the Kiwi's favor in the initial ten minutes of the game.
This is not an exhaustive list, as many memorable rugby events have occurred in recent decades. For sure, rugby fans worldwide can chime in with their favorites. But, even if fans have varying opinions, what's certain is there are many more memories to be made in this thrilling sport that champions teamwork and collaboration.
