It was all eyes on London as Ireland, France and South Africa made their final presentations to the World Rugby Council for the right to host the 2023 World Cup.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has given her backing to Ireland's bid to bring the tournament to the Emerald Isle.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed that May has written to the Rugby World Cup organisation, affirming the United Kingdom's support for the Irish.
Varadkar was the only state figurehead attending in person as Ireland, France and South Africa also presented their bids to stage the tournament in London on Monday.
President Emmanuel Macron has distanced himself from France's bid, declining to provide a video message as previously promised, while the French paraded support from the late All Black wing Jonah Lomu's sons in their pitch.
"I'm very grateful for the fact that she's done that."
"The main reason I'm speaking to Theresa May is around Brexit and also restoring the institutions in the north," said Varadkar, who was due to meet May at Downing Street.
"However, she has written to World Rugby, supporting our bid, and assuring them that the United Kingdom government is behind it too.
"And I'm very grateful for the fact that she's done that.
"I'm really delighted to be here in person. I wouldn't have missed today for anything."
Lomu's sons made an emotional plea for France to be awarded host status.
The late All Black's boys Dhyreille and Brayley Lomu were on hand as France presented its proposal to tournament bosses.
The successful host nation will be announced on November 15, and former France flanker Sebastien Chabal explained the Lomu boys' involvement.
"Dhyreille was born in France, born in Marseille, when their daddy came over and played for Marseille," said Chabal.
"And as he told us earlier, quite simply, he's known as the Frenchie at home.
"And Jonah Lomu loves France, that's where they saw their daddy playing rugby. Today I speak in their name.
"They said they would love to come back in 2023 to experience the World Cup in the country where their father was so happy.
"I'll leave it up to them to decide which jersey they will wear, blue or black, but they are very proud of this dual nationality, this dual identity and that's why they're with us today."
Jonah Lomu died in November 2015 after a long kidney illness.
The sight of Nelson Mandela in a Springbok shirt presenting the Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar as South Africa triumphed on home soil in 1995 is probably the most iconic image in the tournament's history.
Pienaar was in London as part of the bid party and said of 1995: "It was insane, incredible... not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the impact it would have on our country."
South Africa, which successfully hosted soccer's World Cup in 2010, has the infrastructure and "destination appeal" for fans, though political instability, magnified since the government withdrew support for Durban's 2022 Commonwealth Games bid, would appear its weak link.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, said there should be no concerns. "As a young democracy we are very robust," he said.
"There is a lot of political debate and some of it might scare people. But what we are all sure about is (ensuring) that the principles and values of our hard-won democracy and constitution will remain stable and lasting."
