Once again, a major sporting event illustrates the enormous potential of sport to bring smiles to faces and pride to hearts.

Across the country, people of all ages - many with little normal interest in rugby - walked with a spring in their step this last weekend, as England at last played to their World Champions title and, in their dramatic quarter final, sent the Australians to an early plane home.

Then, just when we all thought we’d had enough excitement for one day, the tournament hosts, the French, beat the favourites, the New Zealand All Blacks, also condemning them to an early flight back home (where the local reception was less than rapturous).

Now, there are more rugby fans - more people watching and thinking about this major sport - and more looking forward to a semi final this weekend. Against the oldest enemy of all, the French!

ISPAL hopes that this unexpected success will attract more young people to trying rugby, and indeed any sport. The Rugby Football Union has a first class development network, and excellent clubs, so they are well equipped to handle more recruits. We wish the RFU and the English team well.

Photograph: Courtesy of RFU / Russell Cheyne