Opening Ceremony - Rugby World Cup, 2015

Rugby Returns To The

Nation Of Its Birth

For the second time in Rugby's history, the world-wide played Sport formally returned to the land of its birth when the Country of England - in the role of Tournament Host - graciously welcomed Nations from around the world to London's Twickenham Stadium to officially begin the 8th World Cup in a brief but powerful Opening Ceremony that took place on Friday, September the 18th, 2015.

The exciting, twenty minute-long event began very naturally with the succinct film dramatization of how this beloved pastime was created at the now-world-famous Rugby School, in 1823.

William Webb Ellis, portrayed very well in deed by 14-year-old English Actor, Edward Anthony, was, of course, "present" to showcase his "fine disregard for the rules of Football", "as played in his time", when he first elected to run with the game's ball towards the opposite goal, rather than kick it.

The newly named "Rugby" ball was then passed down through the decades and multiple Schools representatively by the capable hands of various Rugby Greats, displaying the Sport's rapidly-growing popularity throughout Great Britain.

At length, the ball is returned to "the Father of Rugby" (Ellis) in London, England, just outside Twickenham Stadium, who then kicks the well-worn leather ball skyward in a mile-high kick toward the reaches of space.  The ball then begins its highly-anticipated descent to Billy's cabbage Patch, landing squarely in the center of Twickenham field, and leaving in its wake a most impressive crater, from which arises the passionately-cheered-on "Rugby Players"

The excitement continues, and quickly grows, as the “Rugby Players” begin to peel back the layers that make up the exterior of the enormous, worn, leather ball of old to reveal an all-new, Gilbert-crafted, rubber-made and equally ginormous 2015 Rugby ball that has been resting quietly underneath the apparent chaos.

A well-versed singing out of "The World In Union" by British star, Laura Wright, and an unnamed but vastly-talented boy, is then witnessed as the "Rugby Players" continue to work together to strip away the final layer of the ceremonial ball, revealing the soon-to-be-much-sought-after William Webb Ellis Cup, subsequently retrieved by none other than William Webb Ellis himself (as played by Anthony) who then places the golden Cup on a ceremonial stand that has been most prestigiously erected center stage.

The well-received Ceremonial production also included more than a few, startle-inducing cameos, including game legends Jonny Wilkinson, Sir Clive Woodward, Will Greenwood, Jason Leonard, Bill Beaumont, and the former Coach of Scotland and the British Lions, Sir Ian McGeechan.

Also making a brief appearance in the Ceremony's pre-film was none other than Prince Harry - playing the role of Gardener - at the Rugby School of 1823, who humorously declares to fellow Gardener, Jonny Wilkinson, upon witnessing Ellis' fateful escapades, "Don't worry, Jonny, that'll never take off!"

A surreal event, to say the least, which gave proper cause for much cheer and excitement.

Prince Harry also made a live appearance in his official role as Honorary President of England Rugby 2015 on center stage in the midst of Twickenham field, for a rousing speech to the capacity-packed Stadium of 82,000 fans, including the smiling faces of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (bedecked very appropriately in matching shades of Royal Blue), competing Nations, Players, and Fellow Countrymen, of this globally-shared event:

"Welcome to Twickenham, to England 2015, and to the 8th Rugby World Cup.  This evening marks the beginning of a celebration of rugby which I hope will inspire current players, those new to the game and future generations.  There will be moments in this World Cup which will live with us for the rest of our lives. Who could forget 1995 and President Mandela handing The Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar, or that Drop kick in 2003?  

To all the players, we congratulate you and wish you well for the tournament. Your individual skill is to be celebrated; but, I can think of no other sport where the success of the team is shouldered so equally by everyone.  

Rugby has changed dramatically in my lifetime. But it remains a game founded on a code of values. Values which are as important today - both on and off the field of play - as they have ever been. Across the country, regardless of age, background or belief, this nation, which gave rugby to the world in 1823, will join together and celebrate the game like never before.  

In six weeks' time, one team will take its place in history. It's up to every one of us, to raise the roof on each match in this unforgettable journey. The players have earned it, the Nations deserve it and the fans expect it.  We're ready ... Game on!"

Game on indeed.  Following his speech, and a few more ceremonial tie-ups, the long-awaited Rugby World Cup, 2015, officially got under way with the Tournament's Inaugural Test Match:  England vs. Fiji.

The Rugby World Cup

The World Cup Returns This Fall!

Note: Make sure to see the 3 awesome 
Promo Videos at the end of this article!

"The Rugby World Cup" ...  a name that has quieted down to an anticipatory whisper over the last Four years (since Rugby's last World Cup that took place in 2011), is now, once again, a name that is sweeping throughout the Nations from household to household, over News outlets and Dining tables alike, in a contagious, almost tangible, frenzy-like atmosphere!

An International Rugby tournament to end all tournaments, The World Cup only takes place every Four years and remains, without a doubt, the Sport of Rugby's most prestigious and highly-anticipated affair.

International Teams from all around the World that were lucky (and good) enough to have made the final cut of the 20 Teams that will be competing in this exciting event, will stand off against each other in a series of Test Matches for a chance to win Rugby's highest honor, The William Webb Ellis Cup (or, the "Webb Ellis Cup").

Rugby's 8th World Cup is set to premiere this Fall, on the 18th of September, 2015, and will conclude on October 31st.

It will take place in England, which won The Bid to host the tournament against fellow bidding-contenders, South Africa, Japan, and Italy.

See the 3 videos below:

An exciting RWC 2015 Promo from the RugbyWorldCup channel on YouTube!

AND another from YouTube's channel, Gilbert Rugby:

AND, finally, an Epic 2015 RWC Promo from YT channel, World Rugby:

A Brief History of the Sport of Rugby

William Webb Ellis,

The Inventor of Rugby:

William Webb Ellis, an English Clergyman who lived from 1806-1872, is a man widely and gratefully recognized around the world as the inventor of the game of Rugby.

William Webb Ellis

Legend has it, this now-famous Sport first began to take shape in the year 1823, during a routine game of Football ...

Following the untimely death of William's Father, James Ellis, who served as an Officer in England's Dragoon Guards, William's Mother, Ann Ellis, elected to move with her two sons, William and his older brother, Thomas, to Rugby, Warwickshire, England to afford her two children a proper and Free education, as any pupil living within a 10-mile radius of the Rugby Clock Tower was allowed to attend Rugby School completely free of charge.

Whilst attending School from 1816-1825, William was noted as being a fine Scholar and Cricketer, though it was noted that he was "rather inclined to take unfair advantage at Cricket".

One fateful day while taking part in game of Football with some fellow Classmates, William, rather unconsciously, made worldwide history when, upon catching the ball in his arms, cheated by rushing forward with the ball still cradled in his arms towards the opposite goal line, instead of retiring backwards, as he ought, for a Punt or setup Kick.

Upon reflection of this intriguing turn of events, students of the Rugby School met together excitedly to set certain rules and standards to characterize this unique and thrilling new Sport that would eventually be named for the School where it was invented ... and so the game of Rugby was born.

These fateful events were then commemorated in stone, some 172 years later, on a Rugby School plaque (erected in 1995) that bears the following inscription:

"THIS STONE COMMEMORATES THE 

EXPLOIT OF WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS 

WHO WITH FINE DISREGARD FOR THE 

RULES OF FOOTBALL AS PLAYED IN HIS 

TIME FIRST TOOK THE BALL AND RAN 

WITH IT THUS ORIGINATING THE 

DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF 

THE RUGBY GAME A.D. 1823".

Picture of the plaque at Rugby school

To honor the Inventor of this beloved pastime, The Rugby World Cup trophy was dutifully named The William Webb Ellis Cup, which stands to this day as the highest achievement that can be attained by a Nation's International Rugby Team.

2011 Rugby World Cup Champions,
The All Backs!