KEY POINTS:
There are 24 days to go until the first of 48 games between 20 teams in the Rugby World Cup. We check out some other stats.
* 95 countries have national rugby teams, although only 20 play in the Rugby World Cup. Teams like Bosnia Herzegovina, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago have missed out on qualifying
* The largest distance between World Cup venues is 1900kms from Marseille to Edinburgh. The All Blacks play Italy in Marseille before playing Portugal in Lyon - 320km away - and then travel to Edinburgh to play Scotland.
* Approximately 4 billion people will watch some of the 2007 World Cup, according to corporate events organiser Sports World.
* 1.8 million rugby fans, 600 players and 3500 media will visit Europe for the Rugby World Cup, according to travlescope.co.uk and europeshoppe.com.au
* 2.4 million tickets have gone on sale for the 2007 tournament and over 2 million have already been sold, the Rugby World Cup's official website says
* It's 102 years since the 1905 Originals All Black tour of England. The same whistle has been used to start the first game in all the World Cups and this one is no different. For the record, New Zealand won the game 15-0
* Scotland's Gavin Hastings has the most Rugby World Cup points with 227
* An All Blacks "special edition" rugby jersey costs $250. The jersey - made out of "climacool"- has the Rugby World Cup, adidas and All Blacks logos on it
* In case the All Blacks don't bring back the Web Ellis trophy, buy one for them online for 19.8 euros or about $36.50
