In the build up to Rugby World Cup 2015, which brings eight matches to the Millennium Stadium, rugby’s prestigious silverware is now headed to Northern Ireland for a five day visit, followed by five days in Ireland before arriving in North Wales on 26 June.
The Trophy will spend ten days in Wales visiting a range of rugby communities across the country including clubs, schools and festivals. The WRU has been working with organisers England Rugby 2015 to celebrate all elements of the game in Wales, from grassroots to elite.
The trophy will arrive on the summit of Snowdon for a welcome from local school children on the morning of Friday 26 June while there will be an opportunity for members of the public to view it in the Snowdon Mountain Railway car park. The trophy will also stop at Zipworld for a private visit and then Colwyn Bay’s Parc Eirias for a festival of rugby.
Day two of the Tour takes the trophy to rugby clubs in the North, Mid and West Wales.
Mold and Newtown are each hosting family fun days for new and existing club visitors including WRU run skills sessions before Glynneath RFC President and Welsh legend Max Boyce holds an extra special community event on June 27 to thank all volunteers for their contribution to rugby clubs and other community activities in the area. Max is the ultimate volunteer, always helping out with ground maintenance amongst other duties and the Glynneath event aims to celebrate the vital role of the club in the community.
Meanwhile, South Gower RFC will be gearing up for ‘A Little Taste of Touch’ – a morning of touch rugby taster sessions for minis, juniors, youth players, mums and dads, followed by a BBQ and refreshments (June 28). Many former international players have already indicated they will attend including Robert Jones, Tony Clement, Ryan Jones, Stuart Davies, Non Evans and Paul Arnold with a welcome extended to all.
University of Wales Trinity St David, Lampeter will also be among the rugby hosts, inviting local, Ceredigion primary schools to take part in a tag rugby tournament on June 29. WRU president Dennis Gethin will attend the event and the Welsh Rugby Union will also host a schools tag festival in Llanrumney, Cardiff on Friday 3 July.
As the trophy travels towards the south, dedicated RWC 2015 team training bases; Swansea University, Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, Sport Wales and Celtic Manor, will be in on the action. Swansea University will invite local comprehensive schools to a touch tournament on the playing fields, Sport Wales will host a ‘Rugby: Pride in our Game’ equality tag event and Celtic Manor will host a rugby festival at Newport High School.
One of the WRU’s School Club Hubs, Bassaleg Comprehensive is also on the Trophy Tour, receiving a visit on Friday 3 July before the Trophy visits a WRU schools tag festival in Llanrumney, Cardiff later in the day. Some of the nation’s iconic landmarks and visitor attractions including Cardiff Castle and RWC 2015 host venue, the Millennium Stadium will also feature.
Speaking at the launch of the Trophy Tour last week WRU Chairman Gareth Davies said: “In celebration of the massive support for the game that thrives throughout the nation, the WRU has been working with England Rugby 2015, Welsh Government and Cardiff Council to engage the Welsh rugby community in the build up to the biggest rugby event of the year.
“The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour is an exciting opportunity for WRU clubs and organisations to get new and existing members involved and it is fantastic to see the rugby family playing an active role when the trophy is in Wales.
“We want as many people as possible to join in for the official Trophy Tour events this summer which will be open to the public and free-to-enter so rugby fans can begin to create their own World Cup memories in anticipation for the world’s greatest rugby tournament.”
Wales leg of RWC Trophy Tour:
26/06/2015
10:00 Snowdon (Mountain Railway car park)
Zipworld Velocity (invitation only)
16:00 WRU Rugby Festival at Parc Eirias
27/06/2015
09:00 Mold RFC Family Fun Day
14:00 Newtown RFC Family Fun Day
17:00 Glynneath RFC Hymns and Arias Live
28/06/2015
11:00 South Gower RFC A Little Taste of Touch for all ages
29/06/2015
11:00 University of Wales Trinity Saint Davids, Lampeter Schools Rugby Festival
30/06/2015
Swansea University – Touch tournament for local comprehensive schools
01/07/2015
Vale Resort, Hensol near Cardiff
02/07/2015
09:00 Sport Wales, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. ‘Pride in our Game’ equality tag tournament
02/07/2015
18:00 – 20:00 Heineken Trophy Tour, Sainsbury’s, Colchester Avenue, Cardiff
02/07/2015
20:00 – 22:00 Heineken Trophy Party, Brewhouse & Yard, St Mary Street, Cardiff
03/07/2015
10:00 Bassaleg High School ‘Rugby for a day’ school theme
13:00 WRU Schools Tag ‘Cardiff Legacy Cup’, Riverside Park, Llanrumney
04/07/2015
11:00 Cardiff Castle
05/07/2015
10:30 – 17.00 Cardiff Host City Rugby Festival in The Hayes
06/07/2015
Celtic Manor Resort & Newport City
Newport High School Rugby Festival for Junior & Secondary School Children
