Since rugby made its transition to professionalism, there have been a number of changes that the game has undergone, but perhaps none of them have been as noticeable as the ones that the players have made. 

With their whole day now dedicated to training and practice, they not only show an incredible level of mastery of their craft, but they are also able to spend a lot more time in the gym, bulking up and getting faster. 

Gone are the days of being too big to get around the pitch, being skillful but lacking pace, or not having the physicality to defend at the highest level; these days rugby players are quick, have flawless handling and are finely-tuned to be masters of their positions. 

This infoprgraphic from Betway shows the evolution of the players since the game went professional, and highlights the incredible athletic feats that we can expect to see over the course of the Rugby World Cup that we have started to view as the norm in the sport.

From how many calories the average player consumes in a day now to the changing weights of players depending on their position over the past 30 years, it makes for fascinating reading. 

Via Betway