What Rugby World Cup looked like in the 1990s… As France prepares to host the showpiece, Mail Sport takes a look back at what rugby’s biggest tournament looked like in the 1990s
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in Paris on Friday night, when hosts France take on favorites New Zealand. Then all eyes will be on how England will line up in Saturday’s opening game against Argentina after such a difficult build-up.
It promises to be an incredible spectacle, but a lot has changed in recent decades. That’s why we dug into the Mail Sport archives ahead of the tournament and pulled out photos from the 1991 World Cup in England, when the home side lost to Australia in the final.
Four years later, South Africa’s showpiece of 1995 coincided with the game turning professional and England’s dream being ended by Jonah Lomu’s All Blacks in the semi-finals.
They would have to wait until 2003 to get their hands on the sport’s biggest prize…
Lying at work: England’s Richard Hill (left) and Mick Skinner pictured in 1991
Brain confidence: The English class of 1991 (from left – Brian Moore, Rory Underwood, Richard Hill, Jeremy Guscott and Nigel Redman) wind down playing Scrabble
Best seat of the hour: Spectators climb trees to glimpse Ital’s match against USA in Otley, Leeds, in the 1991 pool stage. Italy won 30-9, but both teams crashed as England and New Zeeland went through
Pinnacle of sports science? Will Carling in a tracksuit in 1995, the year England were blown away by New Zealand in the semi-finals
Calm: England prepares for a match at the 1991 tournament in an unobtrusive environment
Winner takes all: Twickenham prepares to welcome England and Australia to the 1991 final, as 56,208 fans come to watch the Aussies win 12-6…the stadium now seats 82,000 spectators
Style icons: Mike Catt and Victor Ubogu show off their new yarns in 1995
Four years earlier, Rory Underwood enjoys a cup of tea before suffering a devastating final defeat to Australia
Underwood, Nigel Heslop, Carling and Rob Andrews raise their knees during practice
To purchase one of these brilliant photos from Mail Sport’s archive, visit the Northcliffe collection.
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