World Cup winner Matt Dawson, who adopted the county during the Rugby World Cup, has pledged his support to the Sweet Chariot Tour which gets underway in Buckinghamshire next week (May 7 & 8).

The Northampton Saints scrum-half, who played an instrumental role in ensuring England were crowned Rugby World Cup champions in November 2003, is delighted that over 450,000 people from across the country have so far come to support the world cup celebrations on the Sweet Chariot Tour.

Dawson said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from rugby fans and people new to the sport since winning the world cup.

“Taking the Webb Ellis Cup around Buckinghamshire and the accompanying events will be a great chance to get more people playing and involved in rugby."

The Buckinghamshire RFU, alongside the RFU, have identified two major events where the cup will be on display together with the Sweet Chariot Tour exhibition unit – RAF Halton in Aylesbury and Midsummer Place Shopping Centre in Milton Keynes.

RAF Halton will kick-off the Sweet Chariot Tour in style by flying the Webb Ellis Cup in via helicopter before the day’s events begin with a primary schools’ festival. Secondary schools from the area will also participate in similar activities and there will also be a seven-aside and touch rugby tournament in the afternoon.

The Sweet Chariot Tour exhibition unit will give the public the opportunity to have their photograph taken alongside the Webb Ellis Cup while there will also be several rugby displays and competitions to participate in.

Additionally at Midsummer Place Shopping Centre, there will also be opportunities to kick for world cup glory in an inflatable kicking cage, score a try and provide commentary on Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal.

The Sweet Chariot Tour is entirely free to the public. However, there will be collection buckets for voluntary donations for the tour’s charity, the 'Wooden Spoon’.

The tour takes place in association with sponsors EA SPORTS, Ford, Holiday Inn, Land Rover and Lucozade Sport.

Buckinghamshire’s Sweet Chariot Tour Itinerary

Friday May 7

10am - 9.30pm RAF Halton, Aylesbury

10am - 12.30pm Primary Schools festival

1pm - 3pm Secondary Schools festival

3.30pm - 5.30pm 7-a-side festival

6pm - 8.30pm Adult touch rugby

8pm - 9.30pm BBQ / Beer tent 9am-4pm

Saturday May 8

9.30am – 6pm Midsummer Place Shopping Centre, Milton Keynes

Forthcoming Constituency Bodies visits:

May 7-8 Buckinghamshire
May 9-10 Hertfordshire
May 12 Cambridge University
May 26-28 Middlesex