The Webb Ellis Cup, the Rugby World Cup trophy, is coming to Leicestershire next month as part of the Rugby Football Union's Sweet Chariot Tour which include 290 events across the country in 86 days.

During an action-packed two days in Leicestershire the gold trophy will be taken to the Fosse Park shopping centre in Leicester, to two schools, Leicester University and Leicester Tigers' Welford Road stadium.

The trophy will be handed over to officials of the Leicestershire RFU at East Midlands Airport at 7am on March 7 and it will then be driven around the county.

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 Fosse Park from 11am to 5pm on March 7 where shoppers will be able to have their photograph taken with the trophy, attempt to emulate Jonny Wilkinson by kicking for World Cup glory on an inflatable kicking machine or experience the thrill of scoring a try on the Elasta Rugby challenge.

The trophy will end the day at the Holiday Inn West in Leicester where an invitation-only reception will be held for volunteers from Leicestershire clubs and schools.

On March 8 the trophy will be taken to an assemblies at Soar Valley College (8.30am) and Hamilton Community College (9.15am). Both colleges have been active in developing rugby in inner city Leicester.

The cup will then be on display at Leicester University's Oadby playing fields where a Festival of Rugby will take place from 10.30pm then to Welford Road at 5pm for a photo opportunity with youth players from local clubs.

The final event of the Leicestershire leg of the Sweet Chariot Tour will be another invitation-only reception at the Holiday Inn Hotel in St Nicholas Circle from 6.30pm