The prestigious Webb Ellis Cup will be visiting rugby communities across Wales for 10 days this summer (June 26 – July 6) as part of the official Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour across the UK and Ireland which sets off from Twickenham Stadium today with 100 days to go.
Rugby is at the heart of the Trophy Tour engaging with rugby clubs, organisations and Rugby festivals. The WRU has been working with Tournament Organisers, England Rugby 2015, to celebrate all elements of the game in Wales from grassroots to elite.
In the countdown to the Tournament, which brings eight matches including Wales’ pool games against Uruguay and Fiji to the Millennium Stadium, people all over Wales can mark their calendars with an exciting range of free-to-enter Trophy Tour events.
Rugby’s greatest prize will arrive on the summit of Snowdon for an extra special welcome with local school children and members of the public on the morning of Friday June 26.
From Wales’ biggest mountain, the Trophy will take on its journey around the country with a stop at Zipworld with the WRU Street Rugby team and Colwyn Bay’s Parc Eirias for a festival to celebrate Women and Girls Rugby all in the same day (June 26).
In a nod to the traditional Saturday afternoon community Rugby network in Wales, day two of the Tour takes the Trophy to Rugby clubs in the North, Mid and West Wales.
Mold and Newtown are each hosting their own unique celebrations for new and existing club visitors before Glynneath President and Welsh legend Max Boyce holds an extra special event to indulge children and adults in their passion for Rugby ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup (June 27).
Meanwhile, at South Gower RFC organisers will be gearing up for ‘A Little Taste of Touch’ – a series of touch Rugby taster sessions for minis, juniors, youths, mums and dads, followed by a BBQ and refreshments (June 28).
Among the rugby events, University of Wales Trinity Saint David will be inviting local primary schools to take part in a Tag Rugby tournament (June 29) and there will be a Cardiff Host City Rugby Festival (July 5). In Gwent, school children in the area will participate in rugby activity at Bassaleg (July 3) and Newport High School (July 6).
The Trophy Tour will take in some of the nation’s iconic landmarks and visitor attractions including Cardiff Castle and RWC 2015 host venue, the Millennium Stadium. Dedicated RWC 2015 Team Bases; Swansea University, The Vale Resort in Glamorgan, Sport Wales National Centre and Celtic Manor & Newport, will also be in on the action.
Speaking of the variety of opportunities for fans of all ages to see the Webb Ellis Cup in Wales, WRU Chairman Gareth Davies said: “Rugby fans over the country will be getting excited with 100 days to go until Rugby World Cup 2015, particularly as the home of Welsh Rugby will be playing such a vital role with two of Wales’ pool matches and a total of eight matches in Cardiff
.
“In celebration of the massive support for the game that thrives throughout the nation, the WRU has been working with England Rugby 2015, Welsh Government and Cardiff Council to engage the Welsh Rugby community in the build up to the biggest rugby event of the year.
“The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour is an exciting opportunity for WRU clubs and organisations to get new and existing members involved and it is fantastic to see the Rugby family playing an active role when the trophy is in Wales.
“We want as many people as possible to join in for the official Trophy Tour events this summer which will be open to the public and free-to-enter so Rugby fans can begin to create their own Rugby World Cup memories in anticipation for the world’s greatest Rugby Tournament.”
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, said: “Marking the 100 days to go with announcing the trophy tour locations creates excitement about this phenomenal event taking place on our door step and gives rugby fans and communities across the country an opportunity to see this iconic Webb Ellis Cup before the eight matches are hosted here later this year. This event again demonstrates Wales’ ability to host events of international significance and we look forward to welcoming the teams and fans to Wales.”
Full details on the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour and how fans can get involved can be found at rugbyworldcup.com/trophy-tour Speaking of the North Wales arrival, Rupert Moon said: “Rugby prizes don’t come more prestigious than the Webb Ellis Cup and we know that Rugby fans all over Wales will want to get involved in the various activities and festivals when the Trophy is in town.
“There’s a host of fantastic events planned to kick off the Trophy Tour in North Wales, involving local Rugby clubs and schools; men and women; boys and girls as well as engaging with people who may never have played rugby before with the WRU Street Rugby team.
“We’re also working closely with Visit Wales and Conwy Council to ensure the very best images of Wales will be beamed across the globe in the exciting build up to Rugby World Cup 2015.”
As a Rugby World Cup 2015 host city, Cardiff is also gearing up for the Trophy Tour and the Official Fanzone at Cardiff Arms Park, which will be open and free to enter, for 11 days of the Tournament (including the opening match, all Millennium Stadium matchdays, Wales fixtures at Twickenham Stadium and the Cardiff Quarter-Finals).
Cabinet Member for Community Development, Co-operatives and Social Enterprise, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “Rugby is such a massive part of Welsh life that with 100 days until kick off there’s already genuine excitement about the prospect of welcoming some of the world’s most talented teams and their fans to the capital city.
Cardiff has played host to major sporting events like the Olympics, the Ashes and the UEFA Super Cup Final but Rugby World Cup 2015 is really something special, and I for one, can’t wait.”
England 2015 Managing Director, Stephen Brown, said: “The 100 days to go milestone today marks a key countdown moment for rugby fans. We were delighted to be joined by His Royal Highness Prince Harry and our Rugby World Cup winning ambassadors Jonny Wilkinson and Will Greenwood today to launch the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour from Twickenham Stadium. The Tour will embark on a full 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland, following the successful International Trophy Tour of 15 countries over the last 12 months, and will engage and inspire the nation to be part of this fantastic Tournament, enabling fans to create unforgettable memories in the lead up to the very exciting six weeks of Rugby ahead of us all.
“As the Organising Committee we are pleased to be fully on track with our delivery plan. We’ve sold 2 million tickets, recruited 6,000 volunteers who will form ‘The Pack’, confirmed our 15 Official Fanzones and are delivering a Rugby World Cup 2015 testing and readiness programme. We continue to work hard with all our key stakeholders to ensure Rugby World Cup 2015 is a true celebration of rugby for the nation and the watching world.”
Full list of public events in Wales (as confirmed on the Rugby World cup website to date) as follows:
26/06/2015
10:00:00 12:00:00 Snowdon
13:00:00 14:30:00 WRU Street Rugby at Zip World
16:00:00 19:00:00 WRU Rugby Festival at Parc Eirias
27/06/2015
09:00:00 11:00:00 Mold
14:30:00 16:30:00 Newtown
19:00:00 21:00:00 Glynneath
28/06/2015
11:00:00 13:00:00 South Gower
29/06/2015
11:00:00 14:00:00 University of Wales Trinity Saint David Rugby Festival
30/06/2015
RWC 2015 Team Base activity: Swansea University
01/07/2015
RWC 2015 Team Base activity: Vale Resort
02/07/2015
RWC2015 Team Base activity: Sport Wales
03/07/2015
10:00:00 12:00:00 WRU School Club Hub: Bassaleg High School (*closed event)
13:00:00 15:00:00 WRU Schools Tag/Cardiff Legacy Cup
04/07/2015
09:00:00 10:00:00 Cardiff Fanzone: Cardiff Arms Park
11:00:00 14:00:00 Tafwyl at Cardiff Castle
05/07/2015
10:30:00 17:00:00 Cardiff Host City Rugby Festival in The Hayes
06/07/2015
RWC 2015 Team Base activity: Celtic Manor Resort & Newport
Newport High School Rugby Festival for Junior & Secondary School Children (*closed event)
