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Victorious England squad parade revives national pride
London, Dec 09: The England rugby world cup winning team paraded through London before going to meet Queen Elizabeth.
London, Dec 09: The England rugby world cup winning team paraded through London before going to meet Queen Elizabeth.
London staged the biggest sporting celebration in British history on Monday (December 8) as up to 750,000 people poured into the capital to see England's rugby union heroes parade the World Cup through the city centre. Their open top bus procession drove through Marble Arch at the start of the parade, an honour usually reserved for the Royal family, who they later met at Buckingham Palace. Fans, many draped in the red and white flag of Saint George, braved bitter cold to catch a glimpse of the players as they rode through the heart of the city. Thousands of supporters lined the route, some climbing trees to get a better view. Their biggest cheers were reserved for coach Clive Woodward, who is tipped to receive a knighthood in the forthcoming New Year's Honours list, and flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, who scored the winning points in the final.
Wilkinson received one written proposal from a female fan cheering from a balcony amid celebrations which surpassed even those in 1966, when England won the soccer World Cup.
The buses, named "Sweet Chariots" for the day, stopped in Trafalgar Square, the epicentre of London celebrations, to display the trophy to a huge crowd, which sang "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" the popular anthem of English rugby union.
England's victory has sparked an outpouring of national pride in a country which has grown all too accustomed to sporting failure in recent years. But Woodward was keeping a sense of perspective, despite the massive celebrations, saying his thoughts were now on the campaign for the next world cup, to be held in France in 2007.
Team captain Martin Johnson, who proudly brandished the trophy to the Trafalgar Square crowd, said the experience of being a world cup winner was slightly surreal.
Later the players arrived at Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth. Woodward and Johnson showed the trophy to the queen, who joked it was still undamaged after travelling so far from Australia.
One of England's most fervent fans at their matches was Prince Harry, who was not at the reception but his elder brother, William, met the players officials, stopping to chat to Wilkinson.
Next stop on the day of celebrations will be a champagne reception hosted by prime minister Tony Blair at No 10 Downing Street.
Bureau Report
London staged the biggest sporting celebration in British history on Monday (December 8) as up to 750,000 people poured into the capital to see England's rugby union heroes parade the World Cup through the city centre. Their open top bus procession drove through Marble Arch at the start of the parade, an honour usually reserved for the Royal family, who they later met at Buckingham Palace. Fans, many draped in the red and white flag of Saint George, braved bitter cold to catch a glimpse of the players as they rode through the heart of the city. Thousands of supporters lined the route, some climbing trees to get a better view. Their biggest cheers were reserved for coach Clive Woodward, who is tipped to receive a knighthood in the forthcoming New Year's Honours list, and flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, who scored the winning points in the final.
Wilkinson received one written proposal from a female fan cheering from a balcony amid celebrations which surpassed even those in 1966, when England won the soccer World Cup.
The buses, named "Sweet Chariots" for the day, stopped in Trafalgar Square, the epicentre of London celebrations, to display the trophy to a huge crowd, which sang "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" the popular anthem of English rugby union.
England's victory has sparked an outpouring of national pride in a country which has grown all too accustomed to sporting failure in recent years. But Woodward was keeping a sense of perspective, despite the massive celebrations, saying his thoughts were now on the campaign for the next world cup, to be held in France in 2007.
Team captain Martin Johnson, who proudly brandished the trophy to the Trafalgar Square crowd, said the experience of being a world cup winner was slightly surreal.
Later the players arrived at Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth. Woodward and Johnson showed the trophy to the queen, who joked it was still undamaged after travelling so far from Australia.
One of England's most fervent fans at their matches was Prince Harry, who was not at the reception but his elder brother, William, met the players officials, stopping to chat to Wilkinson.
Next stop on the day of celebrations will be a champagne reception hosted by prime minister Tony Blair at No 10 Downing Street.
Bureau Report