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RWC 2015 will be remembered as a very special and record-breaking tournament on and off the field, shattering all previous broadcast, attendance and competition records during 44 glorious days in September and October 2015.At the very heart of the success story was an innovative and collaborative approach between World Rugby and England Rugby 2015 that ensured that rugby was always at the heart of the planning process and specifically that team and fan experience was the central consideration in every area of delivery.Player welfare at the heart of planningPlayer welfare is World Rugby’s number one priority and RWC 2015 was the most player-welfare centred tournament, with the most advanced player welfare standards for any rugby event. Aided by Hawk-Eye technology – which proved successful in the identification and assessment of injury, particularly concussion – and the introduction of independent concussion experts to rule on the return to play after a player with a confirmed or suspected concussion completed the necessary protocols. This ground-breaking programme ensured that players were firmly at the heart of tournament delivery, providing a model which other major rugby tournaments will adopt. Putting team performance firstNo stone was left unturned in pursuit of providing the optimum platform for the 20 teams to perform to their full potential. World Rugby is committed to closing the competition gap and within weeks of New Zealand 2011, the strategy to deliver the most competitive Rugby World Cup ever in 2015 was already underway. Record investment of more than £53 million in a programme of high performance and competitions meant that the emerging nations arrived at Rugby World Cup 2015 better prepared than ever before. They did not disappoint.The announcement of an overhauled daily competition schedule in 2013 was a significant performance development, resulting in rest day parity between tier one and tier two teams. Japan and Samoa joined England in the top three teams in terms of total rest days, promoting player welfare and paving the way for what was ultimately the most competitive tournament to date.After initial bids from more than 100 venues, 42 team bases were selected to ensure that the teams had the very best facilities they required to perform at their peak potential. The facilities had to meet international team training standards and be located within close proximity of training and match venues to reduce travel time. The team bases featured a mix of rugby clubs, schools, colleges, universities and dedicated training facilities, taking the reach of the tournament even further.Reaching and inspiring new audiencesFrom the outset, tournament owners World Rugby and tournament organisers ER 2015 set out to deliver a very special and innovative experience for fans, bridging the gap between the in and out of stadium experience for an information-hungry generation of new and young fans.RWC 2015 was rugby’s opportunity to reach and inspire new audiences both within the host nation and worldwide. The tournament did not disappoint, embracing the latest innovations in the areas of sports presentation, social and digital media to enhance the spectator experience.From Blippar augmented reality technology that provided an immersive experience from ticket to seat and an innovative official App that was downloaded in 204 territories and provided fans with a personalised experience, to the most spoken about and searched sporting event of the year, the Rugby World Cup 2015 experience was immersive, inclusive and social.In-stadia digital boards shared social media expressions, while a dedicated ‘School of Rugby’ video series run on the big screens and online educated those new to rugby. The in-stadia experience also mirrored the television experience with a presenter-led show, analysis and review as well as a range of ‘Ref Ear’ programming that catered for every level of rugby knowledge.Rugby World Cup 2015 certainly raised the bar as the global rugby family now excitedly awaits the 2019 tournament in the most technologically-advanced nation in the world, Japan. RWC2015 APPABOVE Nemani Nadolo was one of Fiji’s standout players at RWC 2015LEFT Uruguay returned to the Rugby World Cup stage after a 12-year absence