Rugby's Global Game Begins: New Zealand Takes Stage
New Zealand and Italy kicked off the inaugural Rugby World Cup at Auckland's Eden Park, instantly transforming rugby from a regional pastime into a global spectacle. This tournament established an annual international stage that would eventually drive massive commercial growth and elevate the sport's profile across every continent.
May 22, 1987
39 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on May 22
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