The History of the Webb Ellis Cup
The Webb Ellis Cup is the trophy awarded to the winning team of the Rugby World Cup. The cup is named after William Webb Ellis, who is often credited as the inventor of rugby itself. The trophy is silver gilt and has been presented to the winner of the Rugby World Cup since the first competition in 1987.
The 38 centimetre trophy is gilded silver and is supported by two cast scroll handles. On one handle there is the head of a satyr, on the other there is the head of a nymph. On the face of the trophy are the words 'International Rugby Football Board' and below that 'The Webb Ellis Cup' is engraved. The Webb Ellis Cup is also referred to (incorrectly) as the "Webb Ellis Trophy" or colloquially as "Bill", a nickname coined by the 1991 Rugby World Cup winners, the Wallabies.
The History of the Webb Ellis Cup
The Webb Ellis Cup is the trophy awarded to the winning team of the Rugby World Cup. The cup is named after William Webb Ellis, who is often credited as the inventor of rugby itself. The trophy is silver gilt and has been presented to the winner of the Rugby World Cup since the first competition in 1987.
The 38 centimetre trophy is gilded silver and is supported by two cast scroll handles. On one handle there is the head of a satyr, on the other there is the head of a nymph. On the face of the trophy are the words 'International Rugby Football Board' and below that 'The Webb Ellis Cup' is engraved. The Webb Ellis Cup is also referred to (incorrectly) as the "Webb Ellis Trophy" or colloquially as "Bill", a nickname coined by the 1991 Rugby World Cup winners, the Wallabies.
South Africa boycotted at the first Rugby World Cup
South Africa was not be allowed to take part In the first official Rugby World Cup in 1987. The country was the subject of an international sports boycott because of the apartheid regime. Argentina was invited to take South Africa’s place, with other invitations extended to Fiji, Tonga, Japan, Canada, Romania, Zimbabwe, Italy and the United States for the 16-team tournament.
Russian debut RWC qualification
Russia has made history by qualifying for their first Rugby World Cup in New Zealand this year. They achieved this following a 21-21 draw with Romania in the European Nations Cup (ENC) in Sochi.They were expelled from qualifying for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, because they had three South African players who were not qualified to play for Russia. In the 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifier they lost out to a spirited Portugal team over two legs, and in the process they suffered their heaviest defeat in history.
RWC 2011 Anti-Doping plan
The International Rugby Board has underscored its commitment to the promotion of drug-free rugby with the appointment of Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) to deliver the Rugby World Cup 2011 Anti-Doping testing programme. New Zealand’s anti-doping agency will be responsible for the sample collection and analysis programme that will operate across the 20 participating teams over the seven-week tournament.
A World Anti-Doping Agency Code signatory, DFSNZ will work in partnership with the International Rugby Board to supply qualified and experienced sample collection officers who will be responsible for the witnessing and processing of blood and urine samples collected throughout this year's Rugby World Cup. All samples collected will be sent for analysis at the WADA accredited laboratory in Sydney, Australia.
Official RWC 2011 Mobile App
Now you can follow all 48 matches on your mobile phone. An official 2011 Rugby World Cup mobile application is now available to download (for free) for BlackBerry, PlayBook, iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows Phone 7.
The app can be downloaded fromwww.rugbyworldcup.com/mobileapp and will allow users to follow all 48 matches on their device with live match text commentary and score updates, half time and full time video highlights, Tournament news, statistics and much more.
It is available in English, French and Spanish, and is a great way to stay in touch with all the latest action and news from rugby’s showcase event.
RWC 2011 to showcase 3D technology
The 2011 World Cup will break new ground with three-dimensional coverage. It will be the first Rugby World Cup to broadcast in 3D technology. Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) appointed 3DLive as the official 3D broadcaster for 2011. One of the pioneers of 3D production in New Zealand, 3DLive will deliver a 3D feed of the Rugby World Cup 2011 semi-finals, third and fourth final and the final, taking advantage of the latest next generation technology to give rugby fans around the world a unique experience. This means fans watching the matches will experience the match as if they were on the pitch themselves.
South Africa's Rugby World Cup Song
Freshly Ground & Goldfish perform the official South African Rugby Union world cup song: ‘Let's Do It Again'. The track celebrates the Bokke's quest to make history by defending the Webb Ellis Cup.
This information was sourced from the RWC official website:http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/
