September 15 down the years
Russia make World Cup bow
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England prop Stack Stevens during an England trial at Moseley, November 14, 1969
Stack Stevens was on the scoresheet for England on this day in 1973 © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Stack Stevens | Jan Webster

2011
Russia made their Rugby World Cup debut, coming out on the wrong side of a 13-6 scoreline in their clash with the United States. Mike Petri's wonderful solo try proved the difference between the two sides on the night. Yuri Kushnarev accounted for all of the Bears' points, the fly-half landing two penalties.

2012
Irish rugby was in shock after promising centre Nevin Spence tragically died. The 22-year old, an Irish Wolfhounds international and a member of the Ulster squad that reached the 2012 Heineken Cup final, died after falling into a slurry tank. He passed away alongside his father and brother. Tributes were paid from around the rugby world to Spence with Ulster's Rory Best speaking at his memorial service and skipper Johann Muller also leading the tributes.

1973
Jan Webster inspired England to a 16-10 victory over New Zealand in Auckland. It was the first away Test win by any Home Union against New Zealand. Tony Neary, Peter Squires and Stack Stevens scored tries for England, with fullback Peter Rossborough converting two of them. The All Blacks had picked up a 9-0 victory over England at Twickenham in January, but were unable to repeat the feat as they fell short in front of an expectant crowd of 56,000 at Eden Park.

2011
England manager Martin Johnson is forced to defend his players after they went for a night out in Queenstown during the Rugby World Cup. Mike Tindall, who was shown on security footage in conversation with a woman, Chris Ashton and Dylan Hartley are among the players pictured at the Altitude bar, which was holding a "Mad Midget Weekender".

1920
Eighteen years after its inauguration, a Southern Island Union took the Ranfurly Shield for the first time when Southland beat Wellington 17-6 in Invercargill.

1939
The 29 members of the Australian touring side, whose visit was cancelled hours after they arrived owing to the outbreak of War, were received at Buckingham Palace by HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

1967
Rhys Gabe, legendary centre of the Welsh Golden Era of the early 1900s and member of the Welsh team that defeated New Zealand in 1905, died aged 87 in Cardiff Royal Infirmary.

2001
Leicester won 40-18 at Kingsholm against a strong Gloucester side. Two drop goals by Andy Goode, two tries by Lewis Moody and accurate place-kicking by Tim Stimpson were the highlights of a win that even at the early stage of the season pointed to the Tigers taking the Premiership.

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