The Webb Ellis Cup, the Rugby World Cup trophy, is coming to Bedford and Peterborough next month.

The trophy will be in the East Midlands on March 12 and 13 as part of the Rugby Football Union's Sweet Chariot Tour which includes 290 events across the country in 86 days.

During an action-packed two days in East Midlands the gold trophy will be on display at the Bedford Athletic, Bedford Blues and Peterborough rugby clubs and to the Cathedral Square in Peterborough on the morning of March 13.

The RFU hope that the Sweet Chariot tour will help to raise the profile of the sport both in traditional rugby-playing areas and in regions currently under-represented in the sport.

The euphoria that followed the events in Sydney have been underpinned at grassroots level by the RFU's Rugby - Making An Impact strategy aimed at increasing participation and retention in playing, coaching, officiating and administration.

IMPACT, which stands for Inclusion, Modernisation, Partnerships, Appropriate facilities, Club/school links and Training and coaching, is a three-stage blueprint for community rugby in England.

Rugby-related activities have been planned at the various venues the trophy will visit during its stay in Leicestershire.

The Webb Ellis Cup will be at at Bedford Athletic's Putnoe Wood ground from 9.30am to 3pm on March 12 where tournaments for existing and emerging rugby-playing schools will take place.

The trophy will then make the short trip to Goldington Road, home of Bedford Blues, for a workshop on Community Rugby.

On March 13 the Webb Ellis Cup will be on display in the Cathedral Square in Peterborough from 9.30am to 12.20pm. The Mayor and Mayoress of Peterborough, Cllr David Raines and Carole Raines will pay a civic visit and clubs from the Hunts & Peterborough sub-Union will be on hand to sign up potential new recruits.

The cup will then be taken to Peterborough RFC for the afternoon where a VIP lunch will be held prior to a league match against Stockwood Park and presentations will be made to volunteer workers from the Hunts & Peterborough sub-Union.

The trophy will then be handed over to officials of Eastern Counties at 4.30pm ready for the next leg of the Sweet Chariot Tour.