Rugby MP Mark Pawsey welcomed Debbie Jevans, CEO of England Rugby 2015, to Rugby last week to discuss the town’s preparations for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Considerable celebrations are planned for the event with Mark keen for the town to make the most of its standing as the birthplace of the game and attract visitors from across the world.
Mark took Debbie on a tour of the town, visited Rugby School so she could see for herself where the game began in 1823 when William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball during a game on The Close and ran with it, and met with council officials and Cllr Craig Humphrey, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, at the Town Hall.
Speaking after the visit Mark said:
“I was delighted to welcome Debbie and her team to Rugby and to show her just how important the 2015 Rugby World Cup will be for our town and the hard work that is already being undertaken to make our celebrations a great success.”
Mark commented:
“I have always been an enthusiast for the game of Rugby and have always thought that we have not made the most of our town’s standing as the birthplace of the game. It is an incredible asset and one we should, quite frankly, exploit. The 2015 Rugby World Cup will gives us the opportunity to truly put Rugby on the map, to attract visitors from across the world to our town, and to show them all that we have to offer. It’s a chance we cannot afford to miss.”
Mark concluded:
“Debbie was greatly impressed during her visit and I look forward to working closely with her and her team at England Rugby 2015 to ensure that our celebrations are a great success.”