Brighton Dome has been chosen to host a Rugby World Cup 2015 Welcome Ceremony for Japan and Samoa - one of seventeen landmark venues across England and Wales that have been chosen to host the ceremonies for the 20 teams.
The ceremonies - taking place on
Friday 11 September - will be an official welcome to England and Wales for the Teams, featuring their presentation of
Tournament Caps and Rugby World Cup 2015 Participation Medals. A celebration of the Team’s achievements, they will include Team friends and family as well as the local community.
Each ceremony will also feature a performance from a school choir singing World in Union. Westdene Primary School from Brighton will welcome Japan, whilst a choir from Chestnuts Primary School from Bletchley, Milton Keynes will welcome Samoa.
Managing Director of England Rugby 2015, Steve Brown, said:
‘We are delighted to have secured Brighton Dome to host the Welcome Ceremony for both Japan and Samoa. These landmark locations from across England and Wales broaden the reach of the Tournament and will be great settings for us to welcome the players and management. These events will be a celebration of the Team’s achievements, alongside a warm local welcome as the 20 best Teams arrive for Rugby World Cup 2015.’
Each ceremony will have four Cap and Medal Bearers which will be 16 to 24 year olds representing the legacy of Rugby World Cup 2015. They are selected from local clubs and educational institutions and include players, Young Rugby Ambassadors and students from schools that are part of the RFU’s All Schools programme.
World Rugby Chairman, Bernard Lapasset, said:
‘Rugby World Cup 2015 is about communities and Teams uniting to celebrate Rugby, sport and friendship and these official Team Welcome Ceremonies really will set the tone for the Tournament. Representing your team on the greatest of stages is the pinnacle of any player’s career and the culmination of years of dedication and passion. Britain is renowned for its exceptional warm welcome and love of major events and I am sure that these ceremonies the length of breadth of England and Wales will be very special and cherished by both the Teams and welcoming communities alike.’
RFU Rugby Development Director, Steve Grainger, said:
‘It is great that these Welcome Ceremonies are involving people who represent our ongoing legacy work. We have Medal Bearers from not only the All Schools programme, but also Young Rugby Ambassadors and young club players from the 16 to 24 age group. There will also be 1,000 people representing grassroots Rugby clubs invited to attend the ceremonies, which shows the strength of connection between all levels of the game.’
The 8th Rugby World Cup 2015 takes place from Friday 18 September – Saturday 31 October.