As the Tournament draws to a close, we look back at some of the highlights from the opening weekend as Brighton & Hove Celebrated Rugby...

(Photo credits for this page: www.snapitnow.co.uk)

Brighton & Hove City Council organised decorations in the city for the first weekend of the Rugby. Official branded posters and banners mixed with contributions from arts charity Same Sky to add a local twist to the city's look.

Dressing the city - Same Sky's Rugby themed flags for the Clock Tower

Official branding for the Fanzone

The council organised the official Fanzone on the seafront. A big screen on the beach showed the matches played during the weekend and a range of fun activities took place along Madeira Drive. 

Activities on Madeira Drive at the Fanzone

Activities on Madeira Drive at the Fanzone

Same Sky's Rugby arch at the start of the Fanzone

The Fanzone from above

A couple of volunteers from The Pack,
6,000 volunteers were chosen to be part of the Tournament

Watching the Brave Blossoms make history with their victory over the Springboks at the first match of Rugby World Cup 2015 to take place in Brighton & Hove

Fans in the Fanzone

Fans in the Fanzone

Sunday morning saw a horse parade pass through the Fanzone

A second day of sunshine in the Fanzone

Celebrating more than Rugby!

The Webb Ellis Cup arriving at the Fanzone

Transport was co-ordinated around the city to help fans get about from Brighton station to seafront to stadium. ER2015 transport team, all local transport providers, the stadium and the council worked together to keep the city moving. 

A member of The Pack at Brighton station

A music and dance festival called Pitch Perfect was organised by the council to provide a celebratory welcome for anyone passing by and fans walking from the station to the seafront. 

Performers at Pitch Perfect

Performers at Pitch Perfect

Watching performances at Pitch Perfect

The Fanzone continued to entertain throughout Sunday

Performers in the Fanzone

Fans in the Fanzone

Fans in the Fanzone

Fans in the Fanzone

Fans in the Fanzone

Fans in the Fanzone

Performers in the Fanzone

Performers in the Fanzone

After more than two years of planning, with collaboration across many different organisations locally, nationally and internationally, the Tournament matches were played in our city. Brighton & Hove - a place of Rugby history!

Fans at the stadium! The Rugby action was amazing!

Rugby World Cup 2015 in Brighton & Hove

Rugby World Cup 2015 in Brighton & Hove

As well as all this, the city hosted the Trophy Tour and Welcome Ceremonies as well as celebrating with the Festival of Rugby and much more. 

Brighton & Hove was part of one of the largest sporting events in the world and the city rose to the occasion. Now after six weeks the final match of the Tournament is about to be played at Twickenham tomorrow. Rugby World Cup 2015 will soon draw to a close but the memories will last forever. 

Celebrating Rugby in the sunshine

Brighton & Hove celebrated in the sunshine as the long anticipated first weekend of Rugby World Cup 2015 arrived. 

As the Tournament began, the two matches played at the Brighton Community Stadium were played out to enthusiastic crowds watching from the stands and thousands more watching on a big screen on the beach. 

The seafront Fanzone proved popular throughout the weekend as fans enjoyed the action while relaxing on Brighton's famous pebbles. The Pack, some of the 6,000 volunteers selected to assist visitors, were on duty and on form.

There was also plenty to do and see on the main road running alongside the beach, with free activities to try all day. 

At one point, there was even a military horse parade. 

Only a short walk away from the Fanzone, two days of dance and music was performed in the heart of the city's theatre district on New Road, adding to the carnival feel. The Pitch Perfect festival was set up on the walking route from the train station to the Fanzone. 

Hundreds of artists shared their skills, entertaining spectators and passers by in twelve hours of performance organised especially for the Tournament weekend.

After the dramatic events of Saturday's match, which saw Japan beat the Springboks in an unexpected victory, everyone was eager to see what Sunday's match would yield. By the time the final whistle blew, the Samoans had claimed their first win of the Tournament beating USA with the result 24 -16. 

With Samoa's victory following on from Japan's triumph, both the teams who stayed as well as played in Brighton & Hove won their matches. A proud moment for the host city.  

By the end of the weekend Brighton & Hove had claimed a place in Rugby history thanks to the Brave Blossoms mighty match and the warm welcome given to Rugby World Cup 2015 by all in the city. 

The Tournament got off to a splendid start. Now all that remains is to enjoy the drama of the remaining matches as the teams battle it out to the final on Halloween.  

Photo credit: www.snapitnow.co.uk

Funzone!

The sun shone on Brighton & Hove as fans prepared for the first ever Rugby World Cup match to be played in the city on Saturday 19 September 2015.

Photo: www.snapitnow.co.uk

The Fanzone began to attract crowds from the opening hour of 11am. Throughout the day people strolled along Madiera Drive to have a go at games such as a bucking Rugby ball, a bungee run and a speed reaction test as well as being given Rugby goodies from the stalls stretched along the road. 

Photo: www.snapitnow.co.uk

Photo: BHCC Comms

The Webb Ellis Cup was on display for the first hour of the Fanzone day before heading up to the stadium to be present at the match. South Africa's John Smit, who led the Springboks to victory in Rugby World Cup 2007, was a guest at the Fanzone along with the prestigious trophy.  

Photo: BHCC Comms

Down on the pebbles, people settled in to watch the four matches taking place on the first full day of Rugby World Cup 2015. 

Photo: www.snapitnow.co.uk

Photo: www.snapitnow.co.uk

As time drew close for the South Africa v Japan match, on screen announcements advised ticketholders still watching the Ireland v Canada match to head up Madeira Drive for the shuttlebus service. The buses swiftly took the fans the 20 minute journey to the north of the city to get to the stadium on time. 

Photo: BHCC Comms

The city was a buzz with celebration and festivals. Project Zulu impressed everyone with their skills as they danced their way through the Fanzone after performing at Pitch Perfect on New Road. 

Photo: www.snapitnow.co.uk

Meanwhile the fun continued on a very warm September afternoon as crowds gathered to see the action from the stadium up the road broadcast live on the beach. Caught up in the drama of the match and the intense closing minutes of the game, the crowd in the Fanzone was transfixed by the action on screen. 

Photo: www.snapitnow.co.uk

As the sun set, the fourth and final match of the day was played out on the big screen. After Rugby history was made in Brighton & Hove with Japan's stunning win, there is still another day to enjoy in the Fanzone before the Tournament continues elsewhere.

Photo: BH Comms

Brighton & Hove's Fanzone will be open today, Sunday 20 September, from 11am to 8pm. Don't miss out! Come down to the beach today!