Whitley, UK, May 6 2014 ‑ Land Rover today announced that it is to be Presenting Partner of the official Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour which will travel around the world ahead of next year's tournament in England. Land Rover's support, alongside fellow Worldwide Partner DHL, will enable the international Trophy Tour to visit 15 different countries during the next 13 months. The famous Webb Ellis Cup will visit traditional rugby markets such as Australia and South Africa as well as several countries for the first time where Rugby is growing fast from a smaller base such as Kenya and Germany.
Today at Twickenham Stadium, Tournament Organisers England Rugby 2015 held a press conference to mark 500 days until the start of Rugby World Cup 2015. The official Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will depart the UK for Japan later this month, before visiting Australia, Fiji, Madagascar and South Africa in the next two months. The Trophy will visit schools, rugby clubs and Land Rover facilities and dealerships as well as being taken to some more unusual locations as part of the Tour.
Speaking on the announcement, Jaguar Land Rover Global Brand Experience Director Mark Cameron said: "Land Rover is already a proud Worldwide Partner, and Official Vehicle Supplier, of Rugby World Cup 2015, but today's announcement marks an extension to that support with a commitment to help raise awareness, and build excitement ahead of next year's Tournament and grow interest in the sport through the first ever official international Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.
"Land Rover has a proud heritage within Rugby in the UK and around the world, and through the trophy visits we will help celebrate Rugby in all four corners of the globe ‑ as only Land Rover can. At each location, Land Rover will help to safely transport the Webb Ellis Cup somewhere it has never visited before, involving unique and interesting communities where, in some countries, they are completely new to Rugby. We are looking forward to capturing some fantastic stories and experiences which will be shared with Rugby fans of all nations on the journey to September 2015."
Chief Executive Officer of England Rugby 2015, Debbie Jevans, said: "We are very excited to announce the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour plans. This gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate rugby around the world in the lead up to 2015, engaging and exciting rugby fans and potential new audiences ahead of the Tournament. Visiting 15 countries, including nations qualified for RWC 2015 and emerging rugby markets, gives us an opportunity to showcase the global game and its shared values. In Land Rover and DHL, we have two brilliant partners who are longstanding supporters of rugby, and we look forward to the start of the tour in Japan later this month."
The full schedule of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, in association with Land Rover and DHL, is:
| 23 ‑ 25 May | Japan |
| 19 ‑ 20 June | Australia |
| 26 ‑ 28 June | Fiji |
| 2 ‑ 5 July | Madagascar |
| 14 ‑ 15 July | Kenya |
| 18 ‑ 21 August | South Africa |
| 9 ‑ 10 October | Argentina |
| 11 ‑ 12 October | Uruguay |
| 27 ‑ 28 October | Hong Kong |
| 30 ‑ 31 October | China |
| 11 ‑ 13 November | New York |
| 28 ‑ 29 November | Dubai |
| 13 ‑ 14 January | Italy |
| 17 ‑ 18 February | Germany |
| 12 ‑ 14 March | France |
More information about the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour presented by Land Rover and DHL can be found at www.rugbyworldcup.com/trophytour and fans can follow the journey by signing up to The Front Row newsletter ‑ www.rugbyworldcup.com/frontrow
ENDS
For further information log onto www.uk.media.landrover.com or contact:
Lydia Haley
Senior Press Officer
Land Rover PR
Tel: +44 2476564147
Mobile: +44 7730 923507
Email: lhaley1@jaguarlandrover.com
Kim Palmer
Senior Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 129
M: 07795 666169
E: kpalmer@landrover.com
Jessica Rumboll
Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 258
M: 07880 177 300
E: jrumboll@landrover.com
Editors Note:
- Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true breadth of capability across the model range. Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors. Land Rover products are currently sold in approximately 180 global markets.
- About Land Rover and Rugby ‑ Land Rover is a long standing supporter of Rugby at all levels around the world. Sponsorships include the Super 14 in France, the ACT Brumbies in Australia, the Stormers and Western Province in South Africa and Premiership Rugby in England. Land Rover is proud Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015, taking place in England.
- About Rugby World Cup ‑ Rugby World Cup is Rugby's showpiece event hosted every four years and one of the world's largest and most popular global sporting events. The inaugural Rugby World Cup was hosted in 1987 and England 2015 will be the eighth edition, bringing together 20 teams and fans from more than 100 countries for a spectacle that will be broadcast to a global television audience of four billion. Rugby World Cup provides the financial platform for unprecedented investment and growth in the Game with the IRB investing £150 million in Rugby worldwide between 2009‑2012.
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