Rugby World Cup to come to Telford!
Telford & Wrekin Council today welcomed the announcement that the Webb Ellis trophy – the Rugby World Cup – will be visiting the borough on its first day in the West Midlands.
This is a major victory for the council’s Ambassador Programme led by local businesses after its Ambassador for Sport Chris Child played a key role in getting Telford included as part of the tour, securing further inward investment to the borough.
The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will last 100 days in the build up to September’s tournament and will come to Telford at 6pm on Saturday July 18.
The trophy will arrive as a fitting conclusion to Telford & Wrekin Council’s T-Party event in QEII Fields In Trust Telford Town Park Arena.
The trophy is touring through Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and England before arriving at Twickenham ahead of the opening ceremony on September 18.
It will be in West Midlands and the North West for 11 days, arriving in Telford after going to Hereford and Worcester.
The trophy’s journey throughout the UK and Ireland aims to engage fans and give them the opportunity to build unforgettable memories in the build up to the six week rugby extravaganza.
Telford and Wrekin’s Ambassador for Sport Chris Child said: "This is fantastic news and is great reward for the hard work we have put in liaising with England Rugby 2015 as they put the Trophy Tour together.
"It truly demonstrates that Telford has a growing profile as a leading events town and will be the icing on the cake for the T-Party event on July 18.
"We are really looking forward to welcoming the Webb Ellis Cup to the borough and it is a real feather in our cap that it is coming here on its first day in the West Midlands."
July 18 is a day of sport, arts and culture in Telford Town Park as this year’s T-Party event takes place.
The free event will be sport themed this year to reflect the imminent arrival of the Cup but will still feature arts, crafts and music with activities including a rugby festival soon to be announced.
The centrepiece will be the arrival of the Webb Ellis Trophy that will be in the Town Park for two hours from 6pm.
Councillor Liz Clare, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Leisure Services and Culture, said: "T-Party is already set to be a fantastic event this year and we are truly honoured and privileged that it will culminate in the arrival of the Webb Ellis Trophy.
"We are passionate about Telford becoming a regional destination of choice and the fact that we will be hosting the Rugby World Cup on its first day in the West Midlands really is something special – it promises to be a fantastic day."
Debbie Jevans, chief executive officer of England Rugby 2015, said: "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.
"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."
More information will be available nearer the time
