From Community Game to Rugby World Cup
Around a million fans watched Eddie Jones announce his England Rugby World Cup on a special video which celebrated the players’ journey from community club and junior school rugby to their selection to take on the world in Japan.
“The base of our game has always been the grassroots clubs, most of those who have played for England started at the age of five. Their parents took them down to the training paddock and it was the skill of the coach to get them to love the game. Every player who pulls on that England shirt does so because they love the game.
“We all acknowledge that we are in this together, from the community game to the professional clubs and national union who are combining to produce an England side that the whole country can all be proud of.
“The 31 players who have made the squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan carry the aspirations of the rugby community in England and are role models for kids. It's a major role that they have in the development of the game.
“I'm so proud of all of these players and all the people who have helped them get here we've got the greatest amount of thanks for you.”
The squad was announced at Blaise High School in Bristol one of the RFU’s CBRE All Schools, with their pupils and junior players from Clifton having the chance to train with England.
If you haven’t watched the video here it is...
Jones and the England squad also spent an afternoon with the rugby community at Bristol Amphitheatre, alongside former player Ugo Monye and World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson.
An O2 Touch tournament featured 16 teams and 160 players, with Camelot Jesters the winners. Two further O2 Touch events were hosted at Blaydon RFC and Liverpool St Helens, both streamed live to Bristol – showing the squad the nationwide power of support for the side.
O2 Touch has successfully introduced 30,000 players to the game since its launch in 2013, and has shown no sign of slowing down with nine new centres opening across the country since April, with Bristol leading the way as one of the fastest growing areas in England.
“I know first-hand the difference the power of support can make to a player,” said Wilkinson. “Wear the Rose Live has definitely shown the England Rugby team just how much the nation is behind them and it was great fun to be involved and give the boys our backing.”
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