ChronoFive
Play today’s puzzle
Setting the scene
Rugby union had been amateur for a century, but administrators saw a World Cup as a way to grow the game beyond traditional strongholds in the British Isles and the southern hemisphere.
What happened
The first Rugby World Cup was held in 1987 in New Zealand and Australia; the All Blacks, led by Michael Jones and David Kirk, beat France 29-9 in the Auckland final.
Why it still matters
The tournament turned rugby into a quadrennial global party and gave smaller nations a pathway to upset established powers on the biggest stage. Memorable detail: New Zealand's squad performed a haka before matches, beaming Maori culture to worldwide TV audiences.
Background
New Zealand won on home soil.