On Friday 28th August, JRFC were delighted to welcome the Rugby World Cup trophy to the Island on day 79 of its 100 day tour around the British Isles in the build-up to the competition kicking off on Friday 18th September.
The Webb Ellis trophy was brought over by a team of six representing RWC2015, but more exciting than that was the manner of its arrival in a Royal Navy Sea Link helicopter that touched down on pitch 2 at just after 7.45am.
Club Chairman, Bill Dempsey and Secretary, William Church were there to greet the arrival, along with representatives from the Island's media and a few keen supporters.
Following a couple of photographs, the trophy and team were whisked down to the Royal Square to set up the display in preparation for a 9am start, where they were met by the Jersy 1st XV squad.
Hundreds of members and supporters turned out for the occasion to have their photograph taken with 'Bill', and there was a steady flow of people young and old through.
At one stage the tour manager Lisa was a bit concerned if there would be enough time to accommodate everyone in the allotted hour and a half, but at 10.29 the last photograph was taken in what she reported had been, "one of the busiest events staged by a rugby club".
It was then a quick trip back up to the rugby club for a couple more photographs in front of the clubhouse before the helicopter, after refuelling at the airport, landed on the main pitch to pick up the cup and team to head off to the next event later in the day.
When interviewed by the media, William Church said that everything about the day had hugely surpassed his expectations. "It was brilliant for the club and the Island, and a great way to share the reach of the Rugby World Cup to our members and the wider community at large. To have the trophy flown in by the Royal Navy was particularly special and certainly added to the occasion."
