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Australia in grip of rugby fever with arrival of World Cup trophy
Sydney, Oct 03: World Cup fever hits Sydney as the legendary William Webb Ellis trophy arrives.
Sydney, Oct 03: World Cup fever hits Sydney as the legendary William Webb Ellis trophy arrives.
The World Cup trophy arrived in Australia on Thursday (October 2) to the sort of reception normally reserved for pop stars and heads of state, while the Wales rugby team swam with sharks at an aquarium in Sydney. Television crews, photographers and reporters filled the welcome hall at Sydney airport to witness the arrival of the Webb Ellis Cup. The gold trophy was carried through customs by International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Syd Millar before being whisked away by police escort on the start of a promotional tour around Australia. The trophy, made of gilt silver with a distinctive gold outline, will return to Sydney for the opening match of the World Cup between Australia and Argentina on October 10 before eventually being presented to the victorious captain on November 22. Commissioned by the IRB for the inaugural World Cup in 1987, the trophy is named after William Webb Ellis, a student of England's Rugby School.
Legend has is that Ellis was the inspiration behind rugby after he picked up a soccer ball and ran with it in 1823, although historians now dispute this as the origin of the game.
Only three countries have won the World Cup; Australia twice, in 1991 and 1999, and New Zealand (1987) and South Africa (1995).
If Australia wins the tournament again in 2003 they will be allowed to keep the trophy for good as a reward for winning it three times, with a replica made for future tournaments.
Welsh rugby players took some time off today after a busy schedule to swim amongst sharks while being supervised by trained divers at an aquarium in Manly. The players, fully loaded in their scuba diving gear jumped in with the sharks for a friendly swim.
Bureau Report
The World Cup trophy arrived in Australia on Thursday (October 2) to the sort of reception normally reserved for pop stars and heads of state, while the Wales rugby team swam with sharks at an aquarium in Sydney. Television crews, photographers and reporters filled the welcome hall at Sydney airport to witness the arrival of the Webb Ellis Cup. The gold trophy was carried through customs by International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Syd Millar before being whisked away by police escort on the start of a promotional tour around Australia. The trophy, made of gilt silver with a distinctive gold outline, will return to Sydney for the opening match of the World Cup between Australia and Argentina on October 10 before eventually being presented to the victorious captain on November 22. Commissioned by the IRB for the inaugural World Cup in 1987, the trophy is named after William Webb Ellis, a student of England's Rugby School.
Legend has is that Ellis was the inspiration behind rugby after he picked up a soccer ball and ran with it in 1823, although historians now dispute this as the origin of the game.
Only three countries have won the World Cup; Australia twice, in 1991 and 1999, and New Zealand (1987) and South Africa (1995).
If Australia wins the tournament again in 2003 they will be allowed to keep the trophy for good as a reward for winning it three times, with a replica made for future tournaments.
Welsh rugby players took some time off today after a busy schedule to swim amongst sharks while being supervised by trained divers at an aquarium in Manly. The players, fully loaded in their scuba diving gear jumped in with the sharks for a friendly swim.
Bureau Report