 The event's supposed drawing power outside of a handful of rugby strongholds was also downplayed significantly, with an estimated 97 percent of the 33 million average audience produced by the 2007 final coming from Australasia, South Africa, the British Isles and France.Other sports have been accused of exaggerating their television reach over the years; such claims are not exclusive to the Rugby World Cup.While the event's global popularity remains a matter of dispute, high interest in traditional rugby nations is well documented.