Rugby World Cup 2015 Fanzone and Trophy Tour details announced

• Rugby Borough Council announce the location and operating dates of Rugby’s Official Fanzone and the date and time for the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour visit to the Proud Home 
• Fanzone will include big screens, entertainment, food and drink and rugby activities 
• A first for the birthplace of the game with a Rugby World Cup Official Fanzone 
• Enjoy Rugby Festival will start one week before Rugby World Cup 2015 and finish one week after the Tournament ends 
• Enjoy Rugby Festival programme will celebrate Rugby’s heritage, making sure there’s plenty going on in the Proud Home for residents and visitors 
• June 10 marks 100 days to go and will launch the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour in the UK and Ireland 
• Rugby Borough Council will make tickets to Rugby World Cup 2015 matches available to volunteers and supporters as part of the Engaged Ticketing Programme

The Fanzone, which will be free to enter, will be open on 17 match days across the six week Tournament providing fans, residents and visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the big match atmosphere and watch the matches on a giant five metre wide screen. The Fanzone will feature food and drink including a licensed bar, along with entertainment and rugby related activities suitable for the whole family as well as the hardened rugby fan.

In addition to making plans for the six week Tournament, fans can now look forward to the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour coming to the Proud Home with details also announced today. Rugby’s greatest prize, the Webb Ellis Cup, will travel through Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and England counting down to the start of the Tournament before  arriving at Twickenham Stadium on September 18 ahead of the Opening Ceremony. It will be on public display in Rugby on Sunday August 16.

Fans will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Webb Ellis Cup on the site of Rugby’s Tournament Time Fanzone at Old Market Place from 9am to 12 noon. Local rugby clubs will attend making a great pre-tournament atmosphere, with a chance to get a selfie with the Trophy.

The Trophy will also be in Rugby on Monday August 17 at an invitation-only event rewarding grassroots rugby in the birthplace of the Game.

Residents and visitors who don’t follow the game of rugby will not be left out this autumn, as Rugby Borough Council has also announced the Enjoy Rugby Festival, a family festival celebrating Rugby’s heritage. The festival will be based at the same location as the Fanzone in the Rugby Village at Old Market Place, and will run on days when the Fanzone is not operational.

The Festival promises to deliver a varied selection of performances, events and activities, covering music, science and technology, film, comedy, stories from the game of rugby, arts and crafts, and food and drink, incorporating the 2015 Rugby Food and Drink Festival. The Enjoy Rugby Festival will run from September 13 to November 6.

Rugby-based band Speak, Brother – who feature as part of the entertainment programme within the Rugby Fanzone -  performed the track Lions Roar during a special event at the town’s William Webb Ellis statue to mark the 100 days to go milestone.

Cllr Michael Stokes, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: “With just 100 days to go until kick-off of Rugby World Cup 2015 we’re pleased to announce these details about our celebrations here at the Proud Home and birthplace of the Game.

“Rugby fans across the world will want to visit the birthplace of the Game between matches or to watch matches in the Fanzone, and we’re looking forward to giving them a warm welcome.

“For the first time our town and borough will play a significant part in the Rugby World Cup with all of the opportunities that this brings. One of those is the arrival of the Trophy Tour on August 16, when the Webb Ellis Cup will return to its spiritual home here in the place where Webb Ellis first took the ball and ran with it.”

Cllr Heather Timms, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for culture and for the economy, said: “While Rugby World Cup 2015 will bring a significant economic boost to England as host nation, and to Rugby as one of the Host Cities, the Enjoy Rugby Festival will give an extra boost from fans, residents and visitors between matches, some of whom may not be so interested in sport.

“Besides our sporting heritage, we’re proud of Rugby’s contributions to science and to culture, and I’m looking forward to celebrating the best of Rugby alongside the big match experience during the Tournament.”

James Herring, lead singer with Rugby-based indie/folk band Speak, Brother, said: “I am honoured that Speak, Brother were invited to be part of the 100 days to go event. To me, Lions Roar reflects so many aspects of the sport... team spirit, courage and unity.

“I really wanted to produce something to reflect the values of rugby, and it's so exciting to support the tournament through this song."

World Rugby Chairman, Bernard Lapasset, said: “Rugby World Cup 2015 is a Tournament that will have the fans and teams at heart and we are excited about the unprecedented opportunity that the Trophy Tour and Fanzones will provide for fans to really engage with the Tournament no matter where they are.

“World Rugby is confident of a very special and record-breaking celebration of rugby that will inspire new fans and participants around the world.” 

Rugby Borough Council has also announced plans to give match tickets to individuals, groups and organisations that are supporting the town’s Tournament celebrations as part of England Rugby 2015’s Engaged Ticketing Programme. As part of the programme, each Host City has been given an allocation of tickets to give to grassroots rugby and the local community. Eligible partners will be notified of how to enter the ballot for match tickets direct.

Cllr Timms added: “A lot of groups have gone the extra mile to help us with our plans to celebrate the Tournament and I’m pleased to have this opportunity to offer them match tickets. The local rugby clubs in particular are providing a lot of support, and I’m hoping some of their mini and junior sections will be able to watch a Rugby World Cup 2015 match as a result of this scheme.”