Rugby awarded 'Proud Home' status for Rugby World Cup 2015

The borough of Rugby has marked one year to go to the start of Rugby World Cup 2015 by announcing details of how the birthplace of the game will celebrate the Tournament next year.

The town has been awarded “proud home” status by the Tournament organisers, England Rugby 2015, meaning that the town will be part of the celebration of Rugby.

The agreement with England Rugby 2015 means that the town will be part of the city dressing programme, which will be put up around the town to welcome visitors before and during the Tournament.

The borough council has also agreed to provide an official Fanzone where fans will be able to watch matches, socialise, and interact with official Tournament sponsors.

Also announced are:

• A plan for a series of events which will form part of a festival of Rugby which will run before and during the Tournament.
• A cultural and education programme.
• An enhanced planting and floral programme, building on the borough’s repeated success in the Heart of England in Bloom competition.
• Town dressing, ensuring that the main routes into the town and the town centre carry Tournament branding and provide a fitting welcome for visitors.
• A Rugby programme, working with local rugby clubs to provide hospitality, social and match opportunities for visiting teams.

Cllr Heather Timms, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for economic development and culture, said: “Ever since Rugby World Cup 2015 was awarded to England we felt that the Tournament would be too big to miss, and so it is proving. The Tournament is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and we are incredibly proud to be recognised with an official ‘proud home’ status.

“Since 1823, when William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it, we have been proud of our history and keen to share it with the world. With this status, and with the cultural programme and Fanzone that we are announcing today, we will have a wonderful opportunity to share our history even wider. I look forward to welcoming many visitors to the birthplace of the game both before and during next year’s Tournament.”

Up to one million tickets for all 48 matches are currently on sale at www.tickets.rugbyworldcup.com. Prices start at £15 for adults and £7 for children. People have until Monday September 29 to apply. Matches that are oversubscribed will be balloted.

England Rugby 2015 CEO, Debbie Jevans, commented: "With one year to go to the Tournament, we are delighted to announce that Prince Harry has agreed to be our Honorary President.  The Prince is a great Rugby fan and recently inspired us all with the Invictus Games. We have no doubt that he will help us achieve our aim of staging a Tournament that reaches out to new and existing Rugby fans.

"Our plans are fully on track and we are very pleased with the demand for tickets since they went on general sale on September 12.  We still have a year of hard work ahead of us but with the Team Bases announced, the venues and city plans being finalised, excellent support from our stakeholders and tickets on sale we are able to move forward with confidence.”

Individuals, businesses and community groups who wish to get involved in the events and activities programme may email communications@rugby.gov.uk, or drop into the visitor centre and leave their contact details.