THE Webb Ellis Cup, the Rugby World Cup trophy, will be on display around Yorkshire this month as part of the nationwide Sweet Chariot Tour which includes hundreds of events across the country.

The famous trophy will be visiting Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Doncaster, Barnsley, Sandal, Morley, Huddersfield, Halifax, Bradford City Centre, Bradford & Bingley RUFC, Yarnbury, Otley, Wharfedale, Harrogate, Hull University, Hymers School and Driffield during its tour of the county.

The Sweet Chariot Tour is in full swing with 37,500 people seeing the Webb Ellis Cup in its first five days on the road.

The response has been staggering and, with another 16 weeks to go, the tour is well on target to reach the 2 million mark - many new to the game of rugby.

Yorkshire’s Mike Tindall launched the tour last week, flying with the trophy in a Harrier jet at RAF Wittering in Lincolnshire to RAF Cosford, near Telford.

World Cup winner Tindall said: “I was delighted to be asked to start the Sweet Chariot Tour.

“As a squad, we have been overwhelmed by the support we received from rugby fans and people new to the sport alike. Taking the Webb Ellis Cup around the country and the accompanying events will be a great chance to get more people playing and involved in rugby.”

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.

Yorkshire Rugby Football Union, in conjunction with the Rugby Football Union, have identified four main venues where the cup will be on display, together with an exhibition vehicle, the RFU’s new 40-ton open-out interactive Travelling Exhibition Unit which also contains the RBS 6 Nations Championship Trophy, the Calcutta Cup and the Women’s 6 Nations Trophy.

This includes an all day event at Meadowhall Shopping Centre, a Schools World Cup event in Bradford’s Centenary Square and a floodlit game at Driffield RUFC.

The public will be able to have their photograph taken alongside the cup and in front of a backdrop of the Telstra Stadium giving an impression they were actually at the game.

There will also be the opportunity to kick for World Cup glory in an inflatable kicking cage, score a try and provide a commentary on the winning drop goal. As well as rugby displays and competitions.

Between these major events the Cup and stadium backdrop will make shorter visits to certain schools and town centres along a pre-determined route for further photo opportunities.

The Sweet Chariot tour is in association with sponsors EA SPORTS, Ford, Holiday Inn, Land Rover and Lucozade Sport.

YORKSHIRE PROVISIONAL SWEET CHARIOT TOUR ITINERY

Sunday 29 February:

All-day Meadowhall Shopping Centre.
6pm Doncaster RUFC.

Monday 1 March:

8am Barnsley RUFC.
12:00pm Sandal RUFC .
3pm Morley RUFC.
7pm Huddersfield RUFC.

Tuesday 2 March:

8am Halifax (The Shay).
10am Bradford Centenary Square.
2.15pm Bradford&Bingley RUFC.
4.15 Yarnbury RUFC.
6pm Otley RUFC.
7.45pm Wharfedale RUFC.

Wednesday 3 March:

8am Harrogate RUFC.
12.00: York RUFC.
3pm Hull University.
4.45pm Hymers School.
6pm Driffield

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