Vancouver rugby fans will have a chance to see the Rugby World Cup trophy up close and personal this week when it arrives in the city as part of a world tour ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
The trophy is touring 18 nations as part of an international celebration of rugby in the build-up to this year’s competition, which takes place in Japan Sept. 20 to Nov. 2.
The trophy will be at Hillcrest community centre on Wednesday in Field S, which is located on the north side of the centre, from 10 a.m. until noon. If it is raining, the event will be held in the gym. The festivities will include photo ops and rugby demonstrations. BC Rugby is sending coaches and gear to give people a chance to try their hand at rugby.
Rugby hall of famer Gareth Rees, a former professional and Canadian international rugby player who attended four Rugby World Cups, will be on hand for the event as well as the BC Rugby coaches and World Rugby representatives.
The top 20 national men’s teams compete in the Rugby World Cup tournament every four years. Canada has qualified for the competition every year since its inception in 1987. It is the third largest sporting event in the world, behind the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup.
The Rugby World Cup trophy usually resides at the Rugby Hall of Fame in Rugby, England, the birthplace of the sport.
