THE FASCINATING story behind the first Rugby World Cup – which took place over 100 years ago – will be told in the birthplace of the game when author Stephen Cooper visits on Saturday (October 5).
The award-winning author’s talk at the World Rugby Hall of Fame forms part of the Celebrate Rugby festival, a programme of entertainment and events to mark the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Cooper’s book, After The Final Whistle – The First Rugby World Cup and the First World War, reveals how the Great War impacted on the game of rugby, with nearly 140 international players killed in action from 1914 to 1918.
But King George V celebrated the end of the war by staging the King’s Cup – a World Cup in all but name – the first tournament to bring together international teams representing Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The final took place on April 19 1919 at Twickenham, where New Zealand beat Great Britain 9-3.
It was 70 years until the next global tournament, which took place in 1987 and saw New Zealand triumph once again.
Mr Cooper talks at the World Rugby Hall of Fame from 7pm.
Tickets, priced £10 or £3.50 for Hall of Fame annual pass holders, can be booked by calling Rugby Visitor Centre on (01788) 533217.
Visit www.therugbytown.co.uk/celebraterugby for more information on Celebrate Rugby.
