Okay, so there aren’t any clips of a Segway flooring a double gold-medallist, but our social media team continue to provide compelling video content in the build-up to RWC 2015.

Try Time Tuesday: Emile Ntamack's intercept
France's Emile Ntamack sprints away from the Ireland defensive cover at Rugby World Cup 1995

Video of the Week

This week we’ve seen classic matches and memorable tries from previous tournaments including Emile Ntamack’s 90-metre intercept try against Ireland at Rugby World Cup 1995. The excitable French commentary is worth 75 seconds of anyone’s time.

Player of the Week - Right wing

By right wing, we’re referring to the position, a la Ntamack, not politics. This week it was time for people to vote someone in at No.14 not No.10 in the Société Générale Rugby World Cup fans’ all-time Dream Team. Ntamack is one of the nominees but he faced stiff competition from previous Rugby World Cup winners David Campese and Jason Robinson, the former England flyer ultimately winning the fans' vote.

 

 

Milestone of the Week

RWC 1995 was the last of the amateur era. On 26 August – just 63 days after Francois Pienaar was presented with the Webb Ellis Cup by Nelson Mandela, a moment since immortalised in a Hollywood film -  the International Rugby Football Board, as it was then known, declared that payment to players would be permitted. It the dawning of a new era not only for South Africa but for rugby too.

Quote of the Week

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset on rugby’s decision to go ‘open’. “There was a vote and everyone voted in favour of the change. It was painful, but we had to move to this important milestone, it was the time to do so.”

Feat/Tweet of the Week

Can you fly like an Engels? Namibian prop Jaco Engels celebrates being named in the squad with an amazing piece of acrobatics.

Record of the Week

Among the many headline-grabbing Rugby World Cup squad selections, the inclusion of Italian flanker Mauro Bergamasco stood off the page. The curly-haired flanker can look forward to a record-equalling fifth Rugby World Cup after getting the nod from Italy head coach Jacques Brunel. Only Samoa’s Brian Lima has appeared in as many tournaments.

Anniversaries and christenings

In a week when rugby union celebrated 20 years as a professional sport, it is a little ironic that it finishes with a game to celebrate the 125th anniversary of a team that embodies the Corinthian spirit, the amateur ideal. It is, of course, the Barbarians. The Baa-baas take on Samoa for the first time in their history in the first-ever game of rugby to be played at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The 54,000 capacity stadium will host five matches at RWC 2015.

Japan & Ireland qualify for HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series
Japan and Ireland qualify for the new HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series with success in Ireland.

Team(s) of the Week

In Dublin’s fair city, Japan and Ireland were sitting pretty as they celebrated gaining core team status for the 2015-16 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series. Japan beat Ireland 13-12 in an exciting final of the qualifying tournament at University College Dublin.

Stat of the Week

With an incredible 1,131 caps between them, Italy’s RWC 2015 squad boasts well over double the number of caps of Namibia’s selected 31 players. Having three cap centurions (captain Sergio Parisse, flanker Mauro Bergamasco and prop Martin Castrogiovanni) certainly helps.