Rugby Football Union - England players support Sweet Chariot Tour

England players support Sweet Chariot Tour

England’s World Cup heroes have turned out in force to support the Sweet Chariot Tour. Mike Tindall (Bath), Kyran Bracken (Saracens), Trevor Woodman (Gloucester), Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers), Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), Richard Hill (Saracens), Dorian West and Martin Corry (Leicester) are among the stars to appear on the four-month long tour.

From Barrow to Bognor, Newcastle to Newquay, more than 700,000 people have already seen the Webb Ellis Cup.

Richard Hill was the toast of his home city Salisbury when he posed for photographs and signed autographs as the Cup was put on show in the Market Place. “Coming from Salisbury I am delighted to see the Webb Ellis Cup in my home town club,” said the Saracens back row. “Not everybody can travel to Twickenham and so for people to be able to see it in their home town environment is great for the sport.

“Winning the World Cup was a massive boost to the game. Salisbury has benefited as have a lot of junior clubs. I am sure a lot of kids are going through the Jonny Wilkinson routine! The more that get involved in rugby the better.”

Stuart Smallwood, headmaster at the Bishop Wordsworth School that Hill attended said, “This is a touch of the World Cup coming to a small English city and it’s fantastic that Richard has given his time to attend. He is a really good role model and gives the boys something to aim for.”

Rugby clubs in Jersey and Guernsey are reporting an upsurge of interest in the game following England’s World Cup victory and Bracken, Kay and West were there to lend a hand.

Saracens scrum half Bracken stressed the importance of the Sweet Chariot Tour after linking up with the trophy at his home on Jersey. “The more people we can spread the news to that rugby is a great game and the more people we can get involved, the better,” he said. “I think it’s fantastic to have the World Cup in Jersey.”

The trophy was flown into the islands in a Lynx helicopter by Lieutenant Commander Mark Davies and Lieutenant Dave Turner for a lunch at the Pomme D’or Hotel and a visit to Jersey RFC before heading on to Guernsey.

Leicester forwards Kay and West, and World Cup final BBC commentator Ian Robertson, then joined the celebrations at a sponsors’ reception at the Governor’s Residence and a fund-raising dinner at Old Government House.

“Overall, we were able to bring the World Cup to around 10,000 and promote our great game to all parts of the community,” said Hampshire tour organiser Dave Marsden.

Trevor Woodman went to his former school in Liskeard, Cornwall and, also to Thornbury RFC in Gloucestershire, while at St Bernadette’s RFC in Bristol, Martin Corry led a SEE U @ RUG B development day session in association with Royal & SunAlliance.

A book of the tour will be produced and anyone wishing to pass on their memories should click on the Sweet Chariot Tour Forum on www.rfu.com or contact davebarton@rfu.com.

Forthcoming Constituent Body visits:
May 9-10 Hertfordshire
May 12 Cambridge University
May 26-28 Middlesex

Forthcoming regional events:
May 8 The Centre, Milton Keynes
May 9 The Harlequin Centre, Watford
May 16 The Oracle Centre, Reading

Latest Sweet Chariot Tour highlights:

• The Landrovers which have transported the Cup have travelled 26,000 miles - the equivalent of a round the world trip.

• A Lynx Mark 3 helicopter from the Royal Navy flew the World Cup from Ivel Barbarians in Somerset to RNAS Yeovilton for a short stop before arriving at Wellington School - the former school of the late John Kendall, who was chairman of the International Rugby Board’s steering committee.

• Tessa Jowell, the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, joined the tour when it arrived in her Dulwich and West Norwood constituency and London Wasps fly half Alex King led a coaching session for children in Lambeth, where the local council and the RFU want to establish a community club.

• 4,000 young players and fans descend on Dorking RFC, where school and youth sides took part in a day of competitions and coaching for all ages.

• In Hampshire, 702 Naval Air Squadron provided a Lynx Helicopter to take the World Cup crew from Southampton to Jersey, Guernsey and back to Portsmouth.

• In Cornwall, the RAF’s 2625 regiment gave the Cup a three-day escort, planning the route with such precision that they took left turns wherever possible to minimise delay.

• Local children took part in a tag rugby tournament on Weymouth beach, organised by Weymouth RFC (pictured).

• Adding to the festive atmosphere on Lemon Quay, Truro, was the St Keverne Band and the Philleigh Shout singers under the direction of Cornish bard and prop Brian Chenoweth.