A STAR-STUDDED ceremony marked the opening of the World Rugby Hall of Fame – which is now open to the public.
Jonny Wilkinson headlined a who’s who of rugby heroes from many eras who attended the opening ceremony – and they gave glowing endorsements to the new museum and the town itself (see below).
World Cup winner Wilkinson was joined by fellow former England players Jeremy Guscott, Lawrence Dallaglio and Maggie Alphonsi to be inducted in the Hall of Fame.
Also honoured were Shane Williams and John Dawes of Wales, Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll, Japan’s Daisuke Ohata and Heather Moyse of Canada. Also among those in attendance were Martin Johnson, Ieuan Evans and Keith Wood.
The ribbon was cut by Rugby Mayor Coun Sally Bragg alongside World Rugby Chairman and former England international Bill Beaumont.
Bill said: “Through this partnership with our friends and colleagues in Rugby and the support of the people of this great town, we hope to welcome the world to rugby the sport and Rugby the town, and inspire the next generation of players and supporters.”
Coun Michael Stokes, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: “The World Rugby Hall of Fame brings a world-class visitor attraction to the town, and I look forward to welcoming visitors from across the world.”
Mark Pawsey MP said: “We are the birthplace of the game and we should be rightly proud. The Hall of Fame will give fans of the game another fantastic reason to visit the birthplace of the game, and I hope that they will do so for many years to come.”
The Hall of Fame itself is a modern interactive exhibition celebrating the history of the sport from its beginnings with William Webb Ellis and Rugby School through to the present day. Organisers expect it to attract up to 50,000 visitors to Rugby each year.
The Hall of Fame is now open to the general public. In its inaugural year, admission is free to everyone.
Visit www.worldrugby.org/halloffame for more information.
The Observer congratulated these new Hall of Fame inductees and asked them what they thought of Rugby’s new attraction.
Jonny Wilkinson (England, 1998-2011)
It’s a wonderful museum and I think something like this is long overdue, not just for the sport but for the town too. This was the natural choice of venue because it’s neutral, it’s global.
There’s alot of learning to be done here, alot of inspiration, and alot of rugby values encased in one place. This feels right and I think it’ll keep growing.
Lawrence Dallaglio (England, 1995–2007)
It’s a pretty special and amazing place. Alot of work and thought has gone into it and it’s exactly what you’d expect it to be really.It’s a good museum and a good opportunity for people to learn about the great game of rugby.
It’s important for anyone – in sport, family or life – to acknowledge the past, and rugby is inextricably liked to the past of Rugby the town. It’s where the game was invented, it gave the game its name, and therefore it’s a very fitting tribute that the museum should reside in Rugby. Anyone who learns about the game will acknowledge the part that Rugby and its people have had to play in the origins of the game as well.
Shane Williams (Wales, 2000-2011)
It’s pretty impressive to be fair. I can think of no better place for it to be than in Rugby. It’s very humbling to be here and see it all finished – and quite surreal really; I walked around the museum today with Ieuan Evans, who was one of my heroes growing up, so it’s been an experience.
I think it’ll put the town on the map as a pilgrimage for fans and players alike. The whole history of rugby comes from Webb Ellis and Rugby School, so having it here in Rugby is a perfect match.
Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland, 1999-2014)
It’s incredibly humbling to be part of something like this. To be here in Rugby with so many legends of the game and the inductees who have gone before us – it’s a very very special day.
… and we also caught up with these previous inductees to see what they thought.
Martin Johnson (England, 1993-2003)
It’s fantastic. I think it’s long overdue really. It’s great for the town. Over the years you’ve brought tourists here to look at the school, the plaque and the Gilbert shop, but it’s nice to have a proper museum and a proper home for the Hall of Fame in the town of Rugby. It’s an ideal venue; although it’s in England, it’s neutral because it’s the home of the game.
I don’t think the town has capitalised enough on its status in the past. Rugby’s clearly got something special and unique, so it’s overdue that we have something fitting of that status.
Bill Beaumont (England, 1975-1982)
The last time I attended a function here in Rugby, before the World Cup, I reversed my car into the gates of the Headmaster’s House at Rugby School. I felt as though I’d gone back to school when I had to knock on his door and explain myself!
Hopefully the Hall of Fame is the catalyst that will give the town a bit of impetus and people will come and appreciate it, but also the rest of the area. The Hall of Fame itself is absolutely amazing. I was brought up in the analogue era so things like this were always just displays. But the interaction at this exhibition even made me run, which isn’t too bad!
I’m sure this will be an outstanding success, not just for the game of rugby, but for the town as well.
Ieuan Evans (Wales, 1987-1998)
It’s a thrill to be here. We have a facility to show people what rugby’s about. It’s a stunning set-up. Some of the technology’s lost on me as I’m a total luddite! But it’s full of evocative images of some memorable occasions in the history of rugby union.
It’s the birthplace of rugby union, and rugby’s a truly global sport. It’s great that we have a home, and this is where it all started, so Rugby should be very proud – as we are in the game – that we have somewhere to put this museum.
Keith Wood (Ireland, 1994-2003)
When you see what technology can do and you can use technology to bring life to an archive, a history…
We’re all proud of our sport, we love our sport, and I think when you are inducted into something like this it’s pretty cool, and you look around at all these faces and realise you’re part of that, it’s kind of nice.
To be able to have it in one spot – in the right spot, in Rugby, which is very important – and to be able to look at some of the legends through the years, is a good thing. We love our sport, but we also want our kids to love our sport, and other people to see what has gone before.
Rugby the town is part and parcel of the history of our game, and even if it’s taken a long time coming, it’s now been recognised as such.
