Land Rover Sponsors 2015 Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

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