On Thursday September 3rd, rugby’s greatest prize, the Webb Ellis Cup, will visit County Hall, Maidstone, 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 18th ahead of the Opening Ceremony.
Kent County Council will welcome the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour with an event to acknowledge and celebrate the role of volunteers being at the heart of the game in Kent.
Stephanie Holt, Head of Countryside, Leisure and Sport at Kent County Council, said “KCC’s Sport And Physical Activity Service has a long history of working closely with Kent Rugby and our many rugby clubs, including joint campaigns around volunteers, and getting children involved at a young age in this fun and rewarding sport through school competition such as the Kent School Games.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to recognise the role of our county’s club volunteers by hosting a special event that will bring a number of them together with the Webb Ellis Cup.”
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.
Terry Hewett, Kent’s representative on RFU’s Rugby World Cup Lead Up and Legacy Programme said: “Kent RFU is delighted that the Webb Ellis Cup is coming to Kent and visiting such a diverse group of locations, we hope that as many members of the rugby community and general public will get to see the Trophy and start to get excited by Rugby World Cup.”
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 Kent 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.