Geoff gets to meet William Webb Ellis

Recently while in England, Vryheid resident Geoff Silk got to be up close to the William Webb Ellis Cup. The cup was touring the United Kingdom, drumming up publicity for the Rugby World Cup that kicks off on Friday, September 18, with England playing Fiji. The Webb Ellis Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the tournament. The Cup is named after William Webb Ellis, who is usually credited as the inventor of rugby. The trophy is silver gilt and has been presented to the winner of the Rugby World Cup since the first competition in 1987. It has been held twice by New Zealand (1987 & 2011), Australia (1991 & 1999) and South Africa (1995 & 2007), and once by England in 2003. South Africa’s first game is on Saturday, September 19, against Japan.