Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour completes successful visit to Germany
The Webb Ellis Cup has completed a successful visit to Germany on the penultimate stop of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.
The iconic Trophy visited a number of locations during a three day visit including making a special visit to Germany’s Rugby heartland in Heidelberg where it was officially welcomed by the Mayor, Wolfgang Erichson, into the picturesque town.
In recognition of the growth of Rugby in Germany, the Webb Ellis Cup visited a children’s Rugby tournament at TSV Handschuhsheim Rugby Club, who play in the top league of German Rugby, the Rugby-Bundesliga. Hosted by the club and the German Rugby Federation, Deutscher Rugby-Verband, it saw children from the Heidelberg area show off their skills in front of the iconic Trophy. They were cheered on by players from TSV Handschuhsheim, of which the local Land Rover dealership Geisser is a co-sponsor.
Following the Tournament, Land Rover continued its commitment to take the Webb Ellis Cup to places it has never been when TSV Handschuhsheim players attended the latest Least Driven Path, accompanying the Trophy on a scenic drive to Heidelberg Castle.
The Trophy also spent a day in Bonn where it visited a number of iconic locations before stopping off at Deutsche Post DHL global headquarters for DHL’s special ‘Get To Know Rugby’ event. Over 100 local school children took part in Rugby coaching clinics with the German National team, who then showed their skills in an exhibition match. The day also saw the penultimate round of DHL’s Rugby Vs. the World Challenge, where the age-old rivalry between rugby and football was keenly contested by German National Rugby team captain Sean Armstrong and former FC Bayern Munich legend and UEFA Champions League winner, Hasan Salihamidžić. The two athletes went toe-to-toe in the sunshine producing a dramatic display for the watching crowds.
Rugby World Cup, the third largest global sporting event behind the Olympics and Football World Cup, takes place in England and Cardiff between September 18 and October 31. The Tournament will be hosted in 13 venues in 11 cities across the country. The remaining tickets are on sale at tickets.rugbyworldcup.com.
This is the first time Rugby’s most coveted prize has been showcased around the world and is being delivered in partnership with Land Rover and DHL – two long supporters of the Game and Rugby World Cup 2015 Worldwide Partners. Previously the Webb Ellis Cup has visited Japan, Australia, Fiji, Madagascar, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, USA, UAE, China, Italy, Romania and Canada. To view the videos click here.
Christian Uhrig, Marketing Manager of Jaguar Land Rover Germany, said: “As a supporter of all levels of the Game, from the grassroots to the elite, Land Rover is proudly celebrating Rugby across a mix of markets. It is important for Land Rover to showcase the Webb Ellis Cup in countries such as Germany, which are developing on the international Rugby stage, to continue to build excitement for the sport and Rugby World Cup 2015. The Trophy Tour has allowed us to bring Rugby to new audiences whilst also inspiring the children of Heidelberg, where there is a fierce passion for Rugby, with the opportunity of seeing the coveted Trophy. Rugby thrives on grassroots activity such as this and it’s these players at the heart of the Game that Land Rover’s ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign is aiming to celebrate.”
Wolfgang Albeck, Managing Director of DHL Express Germany & Austria, said: “DHL holds strong values of teamwork, passion and a drive to excel that are essential to success in the worlds of business and sport. It was a great privilege to share this unique experience with our staff, customers, the German national team and the players of the future at our home here in Bonn. We are delighted to have given over 100 young players the chance to see the Webb Ellis Cup up close, and welcome the development of the game here in Germany.“
The last stop of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will see the Webb Ellis Cup visit France in May before embarking on a 100 day journey around the UK and Ireland in the build-up to the start of the Tournament.
