With one year to go to kick off, the Webb Ellis Cup came to Brighton and Hove last Friday, September 19.
Young fans, local players, ground staff from the stadium and Rugby World Cup 2015 volunteers from The Pack came together for a friendly throw about on the Royal Pavilion lawns.
The fun event was to celebrate the one year countdown to the first matches of Rugby World Cup 2015 and to launch a blog to chronicle local anticipation of the tournament.
The prestigious Webb Ellis Cup (the Trophy that will be awarded to the winners of Rugby World Cup 2015) was the guest of honour at the event.
Two matches during the tournament will be played at the AMEX Stadium on September 19 and 20, 2015.
A group of rugby enthusiasts, old and new, young and old, will contribute to a blog chronicling their experiences of waiting for Rugby World Cup 2015’s arrival in the city.
Blog entries will be created by young pupils from Balfour School tag rugby team, players from Brighton Rugby Club, ground staff preparing for the matches at Brighton Community Stadium and members of The Pack.
To read the blogg, CLICK HERE:
Rugby World Cup 2015 will take place from September 18 to October 31, 2015. Matches will be played in 13 different venues across 11 host cities in England and Wales, including Brighton Community Stadium.
The matches taking place in Brighton and Hove are:
• South Africa v Japan: September 19, 2015, 4.45 pm
• Samoa v USA: September 20, 2015, 12 noon
The Trophy is currently taking a break from the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, which is visiting 15 countries as part of a celebration of rugby in the build-up to the Tournament.
In June next year the Webb Ellis Cup will start its 100-day tour around the UK and Ireland.
Brighton and Hove City Council and Brighton and Hove Albion football club worked together on the successful bid which brought the matches to Brighton and Hove. Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven helped by lobbying senior Rugby Football Union officials.
Cllr Geoffrey Bowden, Chair of the Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: “We are very proud to welcome all those involved with Rugby World Cup 2015 to Brighton and Hove. The excitement is already building in the run-up to the Tournament and the matches taking place in September next year are set to be celebrated across the city. This is of huge value in terms of showcasing Brighton and Hove internationally and being part of such a strong sporting community. I encourage everyone to find out how to be part of the experience, whether by applying for tickets or visiting the Fanzone, a seafront celebration of rugby running at the same time as the Brighton and Hove matches.”
Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, added: “As someone who championed Brighton’s bid, meeting with senior officials from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and writing to the International Rugby Board (IRB) in support of our city on numerous occasions I am looking forward to welcoming the tournament to Brighton in 2015.
“The Rugby World Cup is the third biggest sporting event in the world, and I am delighted that Brighton will play a part in a monumental occasion when the tournament comes to England in 2015.
“It is especially pleasing because the Amex faced very tough competition from some more established stadia. I know from my various letters and meetings that the fantastic facilities available at the venue and the undoubted attraction of Brighton and Hove as a host city were very apparent to selectors.”
Up to one million tickets for the Brighton and Hove and all the other 46 matches are on general sale on September 12-29, 2014.
To purchase match tickets, CLICK HERE:
Applications for tickets where demand exceeds supply will go into a ballot. Prices for the matches in Brighton start at £7 for children and £15 for adults.