The Webb Ellis Cup has arrived at its ultimate destination via a bespoke Land Rover Defender.

• Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2015
• As part of the 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland managed by England Rugby 2015, Land Rover delivered the Webb Ellis Cup to a customer event at the Land Rover Experience Centre in Honiton, Devon
• The Webb Ellis Cup is being transported around the country during its 100 day tour in Land Rover’s custom build Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender, a product of Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) department
• Land Rover ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody, attended the activity to meet with customers and to preview the Tournament  

In the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2015, Land Rover helped to bring a taste of the highly anticipated global Tournament to Devon on Thursday 9 July.

As part of a 100 day tour of the UK and Ireland, organised by England Rugby 2015, local Land Rover customers and media were invited to Land Rover Experience West Country in Honiton to get a closer look at the sought-after Webb Ellis Cup and the unique Trophy Tour Defender. 

Land Rover ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody, was also in attendance as he looks forward to seeing his home nation in action at Twickenham when the Tournament kicks-off in September. Speaking about England’s chances, Moody said; “England definitely have a chance to win the World Cup, but it will be a big ask. Having Australia and Wales in your pool isn't ideal so it's important to play well and win the warm-up games so that they go into the tournament with confidence. The opportunity that these guys have is huge and I hope they take it because the nation will get behind them with every ounce of their being.”

The visit to the West Country marks the quarter stage of the 100 day tour, which has already seen the Webb Ellis Cup being transported through Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Wales, in the custom-built Land Rover Defender. The Defender took nearly 6,000 hours to design and was built at Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations base in the West Midlands.  So far on its Tour, the vehicle and the famous Trophy have already visited Scotland, Ireland and Wales, travelling over 2,500 miles to give thousands of people of all ages the chance to see the most coveted prize in Rugby.

The Tour will continue to excite fans in the run-up to the Tournament, incorporating visits to over 300 events including rugby clubs, schools, community festivals and iconic landmarks. Travelling approximately 9,000 miles during the Tour, the Defender and Webb Ellis Cup will endeavour to inspire the nation and leave a lasting legacy of Rugby World Cup 2015.

Moody has also been involved with Land Rover’s ‘We Deal In Real’ Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign, which celebrates grassroots rugby in the UK and around the world. As part of Land Rover’s activity the Rugby World Cup 2003 winner has been helping to give youngsters aged between seven and 13-years-old the once in a lifetime opportunity of being one of 96 Rugby World Cup 2015 mascots. 

“We launched the mascot competition a while ago now and it has been absolutely brilliant. We’ve even had some of the current England players getting involved to congratulate the winners, it’s been awesome.

“The best thing about the Trophy Tour is, that it’s engaging the next generation. Sometimes the World Cup can seem a bit inaccessible but the fact that the Trophy is going around to as many grassroots clubs as possible and that the mascot competition is getting so many youngsters involved in the Tournament is fantastic. It's like the World Cup is coming to you and I love that.”

One Off, Defender designed to securely display the Webb Ellis Cup, while it travels across the UK and Ireland

• Bespoke Defender created by Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations team
• Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender will carry the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup on the 100-day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour around the UK and Ireland
• Vehicle features an illuminated trophy cabinet, with state-of-the-art technology to control temperature and lighting to ensure Webb Ellis Cup is visible at all times
• Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 and Official Vehicle Partner for the tournament

Land Rover has today revealed the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender, a modified 110 Station Wagon created to transport the Webb Ellis Cup on the 100-day Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour across the UK and Ireland, delivered by England Rugby 2015.

Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of this year’s international Rugby World Cup and has created a very special Defender worthy of custodianship of rugby’s most instantly recognisable icon – the Webb Ellis Cup.

The specially-modified 110 Defender Station Wagon was developed and built by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division at its headquarters at Oxford Road HQ in Ryton, UK. 

The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender has been designed to safely and securely display the Webb Ellis Cup, while it travels across the UK and Ireland during the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender made waves today as Land Rover unveiled the vehicle in spectacular fashion at Tower Bridge in London where it emerged, from a giant rugby ball, driven by Land Rover Ambassador and Rugby World Cup 2003 winner, Lewis Moody. 

The 8.2m high ball floated 25 miles up the River Thames from Tilbury Dock on Thursday, passing iconic London landmarks such as the Thames Barrier and Canary Wharf along the way.

The focal point of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the bespoke Trophy cabinet to the rear of the vehicle. A one-of-a-kind Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender App has been developed specifically for the purpose of controlling the high-specification technology within the Trophy cabinet – making sure that conditions are just right. 

Lighting, temperature, the locking mechanism that secures the Webb Ellis Cup and the 40-inch flat-screen Toshiba television are all controlled through the App on a 10” Toshiba Windows Tablet which acts as the interface. The Trophy cabinet is also protected with toughened security glazing.

The climate control system is crucial to ensuring the Trophy is always the star and visible to fans throughout the tour. It maintains a constant temperature within the cabinet to eliminate fogging and is aided by anti-glare security glass. 

To add a touch of theatre, three different lighting modes have been incorporated whilst the flat-screen TV will play a host of memorable moments from Rugby’s illustrious history.

The passenger interior is based on the Defender Autobiography edition and offers a high level of personalised design touches. 

Black Windsor Leather seats have been embellished with gold contrast stitching and Rugby World Cup 2015 blue piping whilst the contrast stitch extends to the dashboard and doors. The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour logo takes prominent position being embroidered onto the front headrests.

Powered by Land Rover’s proven 2.2-litre diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission, this iconic all-terrain vehicle also features a front winch, aluminium sump guard, side and rear steps, modified raised air intake and expedition rack. These are complemented by striking Rugby World Cup 2015 graphics to the exterior. 

Vehicle spotlights illuminate the immediate surroundings like a floodlit pitch while the broader 16” off-road tyres give the Defender a purposeful and self-assured stance.

John Edwards, Managing Director for Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations division, said: “It’s been a privilege to work on this one-off Land Rover. 

The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the perfect showcase for the ability of our Special Vehicle Operations division to make bespoke vehicles. From the illuminated Trophy cabinet at the back to its luxury interior, every aspect of this unique and special vehicle has been carefully engineered to provide the ultimate platform for the Webb Ellis Cup as it travels around the UK.”

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, around the UK and Ireland, reflects the Defender’s legendary go anywhere, do anything character as it traverses countrywide to bring the Webb Ellis Cup to over 300 events in 100 days and engage with fans and players at all levels.

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour in the UK and Ireland kicks off on 10 June and will culminate on 18 September at the Rugby World Cup 2015 Opening Ceremony at Twickenham Stadium. 

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour Defender will continue to transport the Webb Ellis Cup throughout the Tournament, which takes place across 13 stadiums in the UK until the final on 31 October.