Whether you’re a fourth team player at a local village club or a top-end professional, it’s a love of the game that shines through every Saturday and brings people from all walks of life together as one big rugby family.

We hear from five of the 2016 inductees into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, some of the biggest legends that the sport has ever produced, as to why rugby is so special to them.

HOF 123 Jeremy Guscott

Jerry Guscott (Bath, England and the Lions)

I love rugby because I took to it without even thinking about it. It was something that came very naturally to me, I love engaging and socialising with people and rugby naturally has that about it. I grew and grew with the sport and the older I got the more socialising I did and the more fun I had. Fundamentally, the game and its values are the same at junior club level as it is right at the top at international level and it is so much fun.

Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster, Ireland and the Lions)

I love rugby because it’s the ultimate team sport. If my hooker doesn’t throw the ball in straight or my jumper and lifters don’t get the timing right, my scrum-half's pass isn’t on the money, likewise my out-half, I don’t get service, my tight-head needs to do a proper job in the scrum, my number eight needs to control the ball at the back, so if they don’t do that I don’t have a job to do so for me it’s a team sport.

HOF 122 Shane WIlliams

Shane Williams (Neath, Ospreys, Wales and the Lions)

I love rugby because I’m Welsh. Where I’m from, the valley I’m from, it’s almost a religion. From as young as I can remember, I’ve always played rugby, my brothers played rugby, my best friends played rugby, my brother’s best friends have played rugby, everyone has played rugby. The heart of the village is the rugby club, and you won’t be able to speak to one person in that village that doesn’t understand rugby or doesn’t think they understand rugby. It’s always been a big part of my life. My son now plays rugby. He wouldn’t have it any other way, he’s absolutely obsessed by the game and I think as a Welshman, living in the South Wales valleys there, you’ve got no choice.

Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps, England and the Lions)

Quite simply, I love rugby because of the people that play the game. It’s about celebrating life together. No matter how good you are and no matter how talented you think you are, you can’t do your job without someone else doing their job, and that’s what makes it a very special game. It’s the ultimate team game. You rely on your team-mates. You can look after them but, at some point, you will need them to look after you.

HOF 132 Maggie Alphonsi

Maggie Alphonsi (Saracens and England)

I love rugby because it changed my life. It helped me have a good past, and it’s helped me have and shape a good future. It’s allowed me to be the person that I am today and it’s given me so many memories that I can look back and say, I was proud to be a part of that. Now I hope that through this sport I will go on to inspire many others and that it will help to change the life of many other people.

The World Rugby Hall of Fame is an interactive and immersive experience in Rugby which is free to visit. For more information on the Hall of Fame and its inductee, go to www.worldrugby.org/halloffame.