Colchester Rugby Club played host to the Rugby World Cup when the RFU’s Sweet Chariot Tour rolled into town as part of its journey around England. The Sweet Chariot Tour is visiting more than 250 schools, shopping centres and local rugby clubs across the country between February and May, and is a key part of the RFU’s plan to promote the sport to a new audience following England’s World Cup success.
Colchester Rugby Club was given the
honour of hosting the Webb Ellis Cup in recognition of its commitment to Community Rugby, its success at developing
rugby players through its hugely successful youth and mini rugby sections, and its award winning primary and secondary schools development
programmes. It is the only club in the Eastern Counties and Essex to hold the
prestigious RFU Seal of Approval and the only rugby club to be awarded the Sport
England Clubmark.
Activities,
sponsored by Sterling Motor Group, started at four o’clock with 12 local
primary schools being coached by players from Colchester VIth Form
College, most of whom also play for Colchester Rugby Club.
That was followed by representative sides from Colchester school playing
against Tendring schools in three age groups.
People
were already queuing 90 minutes before the Webb Ellis Cup was due to arrive at
5:15pm to be sure of having their picture taken with it, and by the time the
first photographs were being taken the queue reached downstairs, out the door
and for 50 yards outside. Mayor of
Colchester Dr Chris Hall and his wife were amongst the first to be photographed,
and after other official pictures for the club’s archives and school teams
were taken, the marathon task of snapping all those in the queue began.
Although
it looked as though some would be disappointed, the last couple of hundred or so
pictures were taken at a rate of 8 a minute, and everyone who had waited so
patiently went away happy. Nearly
1000 people were photographed with the Webb Ellis Cup in the two hours the Cup
was on display.
An
artillery shell fired by a detachment from the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal
Horse Artillery signalled the departure of the Cup, and around 300 people stayed
to watch Colchester take on Tendring Barbarians under floodlights.
The game was played in an open and expansive style that provided great
entertainment for the spectators. Colchester
won the game 29-15, scoring 5 tries to the Barbarians’ three.
It was a great day for local rugby that many will remember for a long time to come.
To order a team, school or group photo, send an e-mail to colchester.rfc@ntlworld.com or leave a message on 01206 525170. You will be contacted later about payment and delivery details.
16/3/04
