The Rugby Challenge series was just a bizarre run of games, starting out with promise before ending up with recycled, bug-laden games as the copy-and-pasted game engine bounced around developers and publishers.

Rugby 15 and Rugby World Cup 2015 were bare-bone titles with forgettable game-play and even less in the way of replay-ability. As a result, many of the tries feel earned as you have to properly work through the phases to score. The implementation of tactics and pods - advertised as new, but largely available in Rugby 20 - only help that. One notable aspect of Rugby 22 is that it’s the first rugby game to land on next-gen consoles. We’ve been hands-on with the PS5 version, and while it’s far from being the best-looking game by any stretch of the imagination, it’s at least serviceable. It does perform well, with no noticeable performance issues.The one positive from them, though, is the career mode - archaic in terms of modern sports games, but at least resembling a traditional career mode - and the ability to edit and create players. Rugby Challenge 4 is an “Early Access” release which means more features will be added after launch.

Play in the United Rugby Championship, the Top 14, the Pro D2, and a wide range of national teams, including New Zealand, France, Ireland, Wales and Australia. It felt like EA were on the verge of creating the perfect rugby game so it’s disappointing this was the last game in their series. Passing can also be a bit of a pain. Who you pass the ball to depends on how long you hold down either the left or right shoulder buttons. Tap them, and you’ll perform a short pass to a player close by. Hold them and you’ll toss the ball further afield. The trouble is, in the heat of the moment it can be really hard to get the distance just right, especially with the cursor gaining speed the longer you press a button. Rugby 22 offers total rugby, combining tactics and intensity through gameplay that stays true to the sport.This is likely tied to the fact that the game has the license for the Rugby World Cup this year – although, with its release date being delayed, you won’t be able to experience its RWC-themed offerings until well after the tournament itself is finished. Not necessarily the best, not even necessarily good, but it was the first and was a lot of fun to play, especially with friends. Those classic SEGA sounds also make it amazing to play. Which brings us onto Rugby 22, the third in the series of games developed by EKO Software and published by Nacon and BigBen Interactive. For some, EA Sports' efforts - culminating with Rugby 08 - is the finest virtual form of rugby we have seen. Many dedicated fans still mod the title with updated squads, kits and stadiums some 15 years after its release. That was 2007. This is an excellent game and in my opinion, probably still the bestrugby game out there. Sure the graphics ain’t good but it is from 1997. It is very playable and has a good selection of teams the best of which are naturally New Zealand.

Ever since we began developing the game Rugby 24, our goal has been to create the best simulation and most complete game possible,” developer Big Ant says in a statement. “The team has been working hard to adjust the gameplay, represent the sport as accurately as possible, and integrate all the officially licensed teams, which include over 130 countries and 15 leagues.

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For all the promise on the pitch, that's an issue the developers will need to rectify if there is to be a fourth title in the series. The movement of the players, while not always the case, feels fluid more often than not. (Image: Rugby 22)