Rugby’s most prestigious prize, the Webb Ellis Cup, visited Milan, Treviso and Rome as part of a two day visit to the country.
During the day in Rome the Trophy visited Unione Rugby Capitolina where players of all ages demonstrated how grassroots Rugby is thriving in Italy and had their moment with the Webb Ellis Cup. The Trophy also made a special visit to the headquarters of the UN World Food Programme which has a partnership with World Rugby to deliver the Tackle Hunger initiative in the run up to and throughout Rugby World Cup 2015. The day concluded with the Webb Ellis Cup as guest of honour at an event hosted by the British Embassy at the MAXXI Museum.
Chief Executive of England Rugby 2015, Debbie Jevans, said: “Now that we are in the year of Rugby World Cup, it’s great to kick things off by taking the Webb Ellis Cup to Italy as part of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour. It was great to see the enthusiasm for Rugby in a country where the game continues to grow. We are looking forward to welcoming the Italian team to England for the Tournament in September.”
Rugby World Cup, the third largest global sporting event behind the Olympics and Football World Cup, takes place in England and Cardiff this year between September 18 and October 31. The Tournament will be hosted in 13 venues in 11 cities across the country. Italy is in Pool D with France, Ireland, Canada and Romania. They will play their matches at Twickenham Stadium in London, Elland Road in Leeds, Olympic Stadium in London and Sandy Park in Exeter.
The remaining tickets are on sale at tickets.rugbyworldcup.com, with some currently available for Italy’s opening match of Rugby World Cup 2015 against France at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday September 19.
The Trophy Tour, which is the first time Rugby’s most coveted prize has been showcased around the world, is being delivered in partnership with Land Rover and DHL – two long supporters of the Game and Rugby World Cup 2015 Worldwide Partners.
Italian Rugby legend Andrea Lo Cicero accompanied the Italian leg of Land Rover’s Least Driven Path as the latest instalment travelled north of Verona to the scenic region of Lessinia. Whilst enjoying the stunning views in the foothills of the Alps Lo Cicero, a veteran of three Rugby World Cups, took the Webb Ellis Cup on an off-road drive. From here, the Trophy continued to Treviso to visit the Land Rover dealership at Gidauto, where Lo Cicero met players from Benetton Treviso Rugby and children from local grassroots clubs.
Land Rover ambassador Lo Cicero said: “It has been a wonderful experience to take the Webb Ellis Cup somewhere it has never been before and extremely rewarding to meet passionate young Rugby fans in the Treviso area. Excitement is already building for Rugby World Cup 2015 in Italy and Land Rover bringing the Trophy here has stirred an even greater passion in this huge year for the game.”
Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Italy, Daniele Maver, added: “Land Rover has a rich Rugby heritage and it has been a privilege to partner the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour and help celebrate the sport as we build towards Rugby World Cup 2015. Even though the Italian people are already passionate about the game, giving people who have never seen the Webb Ellis Cup the chance to do so, particularly the next generation of Rugby stars, is important to help the continued growth of the sport.”
The first stop for the Webb Ellis Cup in Milan saw Parco Nord Velodrome play host to DHL’s Rugby Vs. the World Challenge. In another unique encounter, Rugby went up against cycling, with former Italy captain Andrea ‘The Baron’ Lo Cicero facing cycling sprint master Mario ‘The Lion King’ Cipollini. The pair went head-to-head in a surprise-filled battle of gladiatorial proportions to determine the DHL Rugby Vs. the World champion for the Italian Trophy Tour leg.
Head of Marketing & Business Development DHL Express Italy, Elena Galletti, said “We are proud to play a part in celebrating Rugby in Italy and introducing the sport to the young generation of the country. Rugby is a growing sport in Italy. We look forward to sharing the excitement of Rugby World Cup 2015 with fans, customers and employees.”
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