RUGBY has been described as “the Vatican of the sport” by the CEO of the game’s global governing body, as he revealed the town beat off competition from major cities in New Zealand, South Africa, France and England to become the host of the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
He also revealed hopes that a host of international rugby legends would be present at the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum for the Hall of Fame’s opening ceremony – planned before the end of this year.
Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby, said he felt Rugby was the right choice.
He said: “One of the main advantages was the history and the heritage, which made Rugby town a more neutral destination.
“It’s a bit like the Vatican of rugby! Anywhere else would have had a national preferential skew. I know Rugby is in England, but somehow it’s owned by everyone in the Rugby world equally.
“We would ensure there was a very high-profile opening, with some inductions of some very high-profile former players, and we would make sure that many people from the rugby world were invited.”
He added Rugby’s World Cup Festival last year was a demonstration of the organisation and the passion required to host the Hall of Fame.
“I think this is a chance for people to really discover Rugby, to make a pilgrimage here as they did during the Rugby World Cup,” he said.
“When they come to see Rugby School and the town, they’ll have a place to go and understand the heart of Rugby.
“We celebrate everyone connected with the game, including William Webb Ellis who was the first inductee into the Hall of Fame along with Rugby School, so it’s appropriate that the Hall of Fame comes back to the birthplace of the sport.”
He added the museum would be a digitised, immersive experience, designed by Mather and Co – the consultancy behind such modern attractions as the National Football Museum, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and the Olympic Museum.
“It will be a very modern approach to conveying our history, and I think that will suit this modern building very well,” he said.
Coun Michael Stokes, leader of rugby Borough Council, said he was excited to open a world-class tourist attraction in the home of the game – and it was planned to outlast the museum’s initial four-year minimum term.
He said: “We’re all working towards this being a permanent installation. The four-year term is really just about financing and getting us off the ground.
“It’s been in the works for a couple of years, but I really think we put our stamp on it during the Rugby World Cup. We saw how people in Rugby have a passion for the sport.”
The Hall of Fame is set to open its doors to visitors in late 2016.
First established in 2006, the Hall of Fame celebrates Rugby’s all-time greats and the moments that defined the sport. RAGM will be its first ever permanent home.
So far, 120 greats have been inducted, including England World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward and his captain Martin Johnson, Ireland’s Keith Wood, Scotland’s Gavin Hastings, Wales’ Gareth Edwards, and former South Africa president Nelson Mandela.
The very first inductees were William Webb Ellis, the schoolboy credited with inventing the game, and Rugby School.
Visit www.worldrugby.org/halloffame for more information.
