Eastern Counties Rugby Union

PRESS RELEASE
On the 11th and 12th of August rugby’s greatest prize, the Webb Ellis Cup, will visit the Eastern Counties during the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

Launching on June 10, 100 days to go to the opening match, the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will travel through Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and England before arriving at Twickenham Stadium on September 18 ahead of the Opening Ceremony.

Eastern Counties Rugby Union will welcome the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour with rugby based activities at various locations where the Trophy will visit:

• On 11 August the Webb Ellis Cup will start the day the England’s most Easterly point before going to Lowestoft and Yarmouth RFC, England’s most Easterly Rugby Club
• Afterwards it will travel to Ipswich to a statue of Prince Alexander Obolensky, an icon of England Rugby, having scored what is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever tries at Twickenham when England beat the All Blacks in 1936
• The Trophy will then be parachuted into Colchester Rugby Club by the Red Devils parachute display team to kick off an evening of events at the club
• Then on 12 August the Webb Ellis Cup will make its way to Cambridge where events jointly organised by Cambridge University and Cambridgeshire Rugby Union will include a trip by punt on the River Cam and a bicycle ride through the city, before finishing at Parkers Piece where it will be on display while a series of events take place.

Andrew Sarek, who is coordinating the Trophy’s visits while in the Eastern Counties, said: ”Having the Rugby World Cup in England will be a huge boost to the game. Although there are no matches taking place in East Anglia, the Trophy Tour will give the public a chance to be part of the tournament and get involved with rugby locally.”

The journey throughout the UK and Ireland aims to engage fans and give them the opportunity to build unforgettable memories as part of their own Rugby World Cup 2015 story.

Rugby is at the heart of the Trophy Tour engaging with over 100 rugby clubs, organisations and rugby festivals, from grassroots to elite. In addition Host Cities, Match Venues, community and legacy programmes, sports events, stakeholder visits, Worldwide Partner activations and iconic landmarks will feature as part of the Trophy Tour with over 300 events programmed across the 100 day continuous tour.

Debbie Jevans, Chief Executive Officer of England Rugby 2015, said: “With less than six months to go we are delighted to announce that Eastern Counties will host the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour on its 100 day journey across the UK and Ireland.”

“The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will be the perfect opportunity to excite and engage fans across the UK and Ireland and make 2015 feel like the year of the rugby nation. Delivering a continuous 100 day tour means we can give as many fans as possible the opportunity to see the Webb Ellis Cup and tell us their rugby story as they countdown to their own Tournament experience.”

Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour information can be viewed at rugbyworldcup.com/trophy-tour, full details on the locations and events will updated in the coming months.

For more details contact Andrew Sarek: andrewsarek@therfu.com Mob: 07958138083