THE OVAL ball will travel from Rugby across the world to mark 200 years of rugby football.
Rugby School will officially kick off the bicentenary celebrations by sending out 200 balls to be passed around the world during 2023.
The first Global Pass will happen at the school on Sunday (February 5) when England World Cup winner Mike Tindall MBE and Rugby Football Union President Nigel Gillingham will take part.
They will be joined by Red Roses player Emily Scarratt MBE, Stuart Andrew MP, Rugby School Executive Head Master Peter Green, 1957 Rugbeian XV captain His Honour Giles Forrester, and current School XV captain David Bennett, to make the first passes.
Mayor Carolyn Watson-Merret and Rugby MP Mark Pawsey will also take part.
The ball will continue to be passed between the 140 people gathered before it joins the other 199 anniversary rugby balls – made by local firm Gilbert Rugby – to be sent by DHL to 200 rugby enthusiasts around the world to continue the bicentenary global pass.
They will include former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio, former Australia captain John Eales, South African World Cup winner Francois Louw, ex-England prop Jason Leonard OBE, and many Rugbeians.
They have all agreed to host an event during which they will record a pass in their own location. Every week throughout 2023, Rugby School will feature a ‘Sunday Pass’ montage on its website and social media.
Throughout the year, the school will host a number of matches, starting with the England v Wales U18 women’s international capped match on Sunday March 5, followed by an international U18s sevens tournament on March 25 and 26 contested by 20 teams from around the world. Every match throughout the year will be live-streamed by NextGenXV.
Peter Green said: “I have been a lifelong supporter of rugby – as player, coach and spectator – and have always been struck by the strong and enduring friendship that the game fosters, its sense of community and inclusivity wherever it is played, and the trust in each other that teams demonstrate on the pitch.
“All of us at Rugby School are proud that the game of rugby – our game – is played and enjoyed by so many people. We are grateful to Gilbert Rugby and DHL for sponsoring this first event in a long list of celebrations throughout 2023.”
Visit www.rugbyschool.co.uk/200-anniversary/events for a full list of the other matches, exhibitions and events.
