......................and Severn Class Lifeboat to ferry the Rugby World Cup on Dorset & Wilts Sweet Chariot Tour

The Webb Ellis Cup will be escorted in style this week by a luxury Manhattan 74 motoryacht and a Severn Class Lifeboat as it arrives in South Dorset as part of the nationwide Sweet Chariot Tour.

The tour, which celebrates England winning the Rugby World Cup in Sydney, Australia last November and it is hoped will help raise the profile of the sport both in traditional rugby-playing areas and in regions currently under-represented in the sport, kick-offs in Salisbury on Thursday April 8 before travelling down to the south coast the following day.

Courtesy of Sunseeker International, the rugby world cup will board the motoryacht, aptly named the ‘Sweet Chariot’, from Bournemouth Pier to Sunseeker’s Shipyard 2 in Poole quay on Good Friday at 11.20am.

After a two hour stop in Poole at the Dolphin Centre the Webb Ellis Cup again takes to the water, this time in a Severn Class Lifeboat provided by Weymouth Lifeboat Station to arrive in Weymouth at the Pavilion Theatre. The Severn class lifeboat is 17 metres in length, has a top speed of 25 knots, a range of 250 nautical miles and requires a crew of six people.

The RNLI Weymouth Lifeboat Station, which is a charity and is totally reliant on the support of the public, was the fourth busiest coastal station in 2003, launching 103 times and rescuing 132 people. They provide a 24/7 search and rescue service and the majority of RNLI crews are volunteers.

The action gets underway in south Dorset between 9 and 12pm at Bournemouth Pier. The pier will play host to the illustrious cup and the Sweet Chariot Tour exhibition unit which gives the general public a chance to provide a commentary on Jonny Wilkinson’s winning drop goal.

There will also be several other rugby displays and competitions to participate in and opportunities for the public to have their photograph taken alongside the cup in front of a backdrop of the Telstra Stadium giving an impression that they were actually at the game.

Local clubs from the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area have been invited to participate in a contact rugby festival while a turn-up-and try tag rugby festival has been organised for anyone to get a taste of rugby.

East Dorset RFC, one of the smallest but enthusiastic rugby clubs in the county, have been instrumental in organising the playing events at Bournemouth Pier and honorary secretary, Martin Davis, said: “We are immensely proud and humble to have been asked to help organise this part of the Sweet Chariot Tour.

“It is superb to see one of the smallest rugby clubs being so close to one of the sporting world’s premier trophies.”

The world cup will then wing its way to Poole’s Dolphin Centre where there will be more beachfront rugby tournaments, rugby fairs and photo opportunities.

After the Webb Ellis Cup’s cruise on the Severn Class Lifeboat, the cup will take centre stage at the Weymouth Pavilion Theatre for public viewing before returning to Wiltshire’s Trowbridge Civic Hall.

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.

Dorset & Wilts tour itinerary

Thursday April 8

9–10.30 – Christchurch Regent Centre. The Webb Ellis Cup.

10am – 4pm – Salisbury Market Place. Sweet Chariot Tour exhibition unit. Webb Ellis Cup will be present from 11.45-2pm. Richard Hill will be at Salisbury Market Place from 11.45-1pm.

1-2pm – Salisbury Guildhall. A Mayoral Reception for Richard Hill. Private event.

3pm- 530pm – Blandford Town Centre at the Crown Plaza Hotel’s Sealy Suite. The Webb Ellis Cup.

1-9pm - Shaftesbury Sports College. The Webb Ellis Cup arrives at 5.45pm.

Friday April 9

9–12pm - Bournemouth Pier. Sweet Chariot exhibition unit and the Webb Ellis Cup until 11.30am.

12.45pm-2pm – Poole Quay. The Dolphin Centre. The Webb Ellis Cup will be transported by a luxury Manhattan 74 motor yacht courtesy of Sunseeker International to Poole Quay

3.30pm-5pm – Weymouth Pavilion Theatre. The Webb Ellis Cup. The cup will be transported to Weymouth via a RNLI Weymouth Lifeboat.

7pm-9pm – Trowbridge Civic Hall. The Webb Ellis Cup

Saturday April 10

9am-2pm – Swindon Brunel Centre. Sweet Chariot Tour exhibition unit and the Webb Ellis Cup (the cup will be on display from 9am-12pm)

3.30pm–7pm – Chippenham RFC. The Webb Ellis Cup.