Webb Ellis Cup Tour Completes Fiji Visit

The Webb Ellis Cup has completed the third leg of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, delivered in partnership with Land Rover and DHL, in Fiji.

The Trophy was on a three day visit as part of the global Trophy Tour in the lead up to Rugby World Cup 2015 hosted in England and in Cardiff next year. 

The Tour also coincided with the Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier which saw Fiji beat the Cook Islands 108 – 6 to confirm the Oceania 1 spot in Pool A alongside Australia, England, Wales and the Play Off winner, to be decided later this year.

After a traditional Fijian welcome at the Ratu Navula Secondary School in Nadi, the Webb Ellis Cup visited schools, clubs and communities across the island, including remote locations Naivucini and Nadarivatu as part of Land Rover’s least Driven Path initiative. 

Former Fijian Internationals Viliame Satala and Alifereti Doviverata joined the Tour, running coaching sessions, meeting locals, explaining the story of the Webb Ellis Cup and exciting youngsters ahead of next year’s Tournament.

Jaguar Land Rover brand experience director, Mark Cameron, said: ‘Our Least Driven Path activity aims to take the famous Webb Ellis Cup to remote places, and this week was a fantastic opportunity for Land Rover to take the Trophy right into the heart of the island to reach communities who would never otherwise get a chance to see the Trophy. The response we had from the different villages was incredible and has certainly shown just how much passion there is for Rugby.’

Whilst in Suva, the sport went head-to-head with netball as DHL’s Rugby vs The World Challenge kicked off at Raiwaqa Rugby Club. New Zealand’s World Cup 2011 winner John Afoa competed against Fijian Pearl’s Maria Lutua in a series of challenges, which saw rugby victorious with a little help from the local team.

Country Manager DHL Express Fiji, Mark Komene, added: ‘Rugby has a way of uniting communities through camaraderie and the love of the game. Our partnership with Raiwaqa Rugby Club brought over 700 people from around the area together to enjoy our entertaining challenges staged between former New Zealand player John Afoa and champion goal shoot Maria Lutua of the Fiji Pearls Netball team, with Rugby the winner on the day. We are proud to have played a part in bringing the Webb Ellis Cup, Rugby’s greatest prize, to Fiji for so many to experience up close.’

After the Trophy was officially hosted by the British High Commission, it made its way to Churchill Park where it was the main attraction ahead of the match which saw the eighteenth team qualify for Rugby World Cup 2015. 

England Rugby 2015 CEO, Debbie Jevans, commented: ‘The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour in Fiji was hugely successful and gave us the opportunity to engage with many communities, schools and clubs. Fiji is very passionate about the Game and we have been touched by the warm welcome given to the Trophy and to the Tour as we moved across the Island. We now know the opening game of Rugby World Cup 2015 at Twickenham Stadium with England playing Fiji, the eighteenth team to qualify for the Tournament, and we look forward to a fantastic start to Rugby World Cup 2015.’ 

Next the Webb Ellis Cup will journey onto Madagascar for a three day visit which will culminate in the Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifier for Africa 1; the winner joining New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, and Georgia in Pool C.