TESSA JOWELL JOINS SWEET CHARIOT TOUR IN KENT

Tessa Jowell MP will join the Rugby Football Union's Sweet Chariot Tour when the Rugby World Cup arrives in Kent at the weekend.

The tour stops off at more than 250 clubs, schools and shopping centres throughout the country to give people the chance to see the trophy and encourage them to take up the game.

The Webb Ellis Cup will be in Kent from Sunday, March 21 to Tuesday, March 23 - visiting communities from Lambeth in south London to Betteshanger in the far east of the county - as part of the celebrations of last year's Rugby World Cup victory.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – who represents the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency – will attend a reception for clubs at Dulwich College on Sunday, March 21.

"This is a great chance for people throughout the country to see the Webb Ellis Cup as part of its triumphant tour - reminding everyone of that great day last November when the whole country cheered the England team to victory,” said Jowell.

“There will be no-one who did not walk a little bit taller in the days that followed. That is the power of sport."

So far more than 350,000 people have seen the trophy in its six weeks on the road as part of the Sweet Chariot Tour.

The programme in Kent starts on Sunday morning at the Bluewater Shopping Centre, where the cup will be on display alongside the RFU’s new 40-ton open-out interactive Travelling Exhibition Unit, which also contains the RBS Six Nations Championship Trophy, the Calcutta Cup and the Women's Six Nations Trophy.

Visitors to the exhibition can practise their rugby skills with kicking and passing games as well as learning more about the clubs in their area and how to take up the sport.

On Monday morning the cup is on display at Brockwell Park from 8.30am until 11am, where the RFU and Lambeth Council are showcasing their plans to promote the sport in the borough and the public are invited to have their photographs taken with the cup.

That afternoon the cup will be on display at Hayesbrook School in Tonbridge from 2pm to 3pm and then from 3pm to 6pm outside County Hall in Maidstone before a reception hosted by Kent County Council.

Tuesday, March 23 starts with the the cup and exhibition unit at Betteshanger RFC, near Deal, from 10am to midday, before visiting the University of Kent at Canterbury (1.30-2.30pm) and arriving at Tesco, in Faversham, from 3.30pm until 5.30pm.

The Kent leg of the tour ends with a reception in Faversham for east Kent clubs hosted by county rugby sponsors Shepherd Neame.

More information about the Sweet Chariot Tour is also available on the RFU Community Rugby hotline 0906 6800805

Media are welcome to attend any of the Sweet Chariot Tour events, but must register their interest with Kent RFU media liaison Roger Kelsey on 07803 966599 or by email to roger@prismm.co.uk

Kent Itinerary