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Royal appointment to Rugby World Cup organising committee

Besi Besemar September 19, 2014

Prince Harry has been appointed as Honorary President of England Rugby 2015, the organising committee delivering Rugby World Cup 2015.

Prince Harry

Prince Harry is a keen Rugby fan, and Vice Patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). In his role as Honorary President of England Rugby 2015, the Prince will play an important role in welcoming the 20 qualifying nations to Rugby World Cup 2015.

In the last year, England Rugby 2015 has made strong progress with planning and delivery of the Tournament.

Key milestones include:

• Tickets now on general sale until September 29, 2014

• Over 350,000 tickets sold to rugby fans through Rugby clubs in England and Wales through the Rugby Community Ticketing Programme (May to July 2014)

• 41 Team Bases throughout the country selected by the qualifying teams

• Over 20,000 applications received for the 6,000 places in ‘The Pack’, the official Tournament Volunteer Programme

• ‘Try Out’ selection centres have interviewed over 5,000 applicants for ‘The Pack’ so far

• The International Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour has visited five countries on its 15 nation tour

In the next twelve months, planning for the Tournament will continue at pace. Fans will find out which tickets they have successfully applied for in October 2014. Any remaining tickets will go back on sale in November 2014.

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will visit Argentina and Uruguay, USA, Dubai, China, Canada, Italy, Romania, Germany and France.

Planning is underway for a 100 day Trophy Tour, taking the Webb Ellis Cup to England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales from June 10 to September 18 2015.

Helen Grant MP
Helen Grant MP

Minister for Sport and Tourism, Helen Grant, said: “I am delighted with the progress that the England Rugby 2015 team are making with one year to go until the start of the Tournament. Prince Harry will be a fantastic Honorary President for the competition, with his great love of the sport and his experience putting on a fantastic Invictus Games.

 

“Rugby World Cup 2015 will further build on this country’s excellent reputation for putting on major sporting events. It will leave a great legacy for the sport, boost tourism and help grow the economy.”

Detailed transport plans for each of the 13 match venues have been developed, and City Delivery plans are in place for all the Host Cities.

Venues for the official RWC 2015 Fanzones around the country in each Host City will be announced next year.

Ian RitchieRFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie, added: ”With a year to go to the Tournament, the RFU is determined that hosting the Tournament will enable us to grow Rugby in England and to create a meaningful legacy for the game. With that in mind, we are already investing and activating in a variety of key areas. I cannot think of anyone more appropriate than Prince Harry, who loves his Rugby, to be Honorary President of England Rugby 2015 to help us achieve that objective.”

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