THOUSANDS visited Rugby’s World Cup hotspot over the weekend as the tournament finally touched down.
The Rugby Fanzone was packed to the rafters for England’s opening match against Fiji on Friday night (September 18) – which the host side won 35-11.
Earlier that day, fans – as well as local TV and radio news teams – flocked to the Fanzone’s official opening which featured live bands, family entertainment, special guest Shaun the Sheep, the Guinness World Record rugby freestyle champion, stilt-walkers, Haka performances, children’s entertainers, tag Rugby, special guests from Wasps RFC, and a street performer who brought the William Webb Ellis statue to life.
Supporters continued to visit the Fanzone throughout the weekend to watch seven other matches on the giant screen – which, at 5m x 3m, is Rugby’s largest – including Ireland’s 50-7 victory over Canada, Wales’ 54-9 triumph over Uruguay, and a historic 34-32 win for Japan over South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Enjoy Rugby Festival continues this week with a performance of Grav (a one-man biographical drama of Welsh rugger star and actor Ray Gravell), a charity celebration dinner with Scotland legend Gavin Hastings, an illustrated lecture on contemporary embroidery, a gig by chart rockers Mallory Knox, and the opening of Rugby’s Food and Drink Festival 2015.
Visit www.enjoyrugby.co.uk or the Rugby Visitor Centre in Rugby Library for a copy of the Enjoy Rugby Festival guide, including all events and matches being screened in the Fanzone.
