The Assembly Rooms in Bath has been chosen to host the Rugby World Cup 2015 Welcome Ceremony for Australia, which will take place on Tuesday 15th September.
The Bath & North East Somerset Council-run Assembly Rooms are one of seventeen landmark venues across England and Wales that have been chosen to host the ceremonies for the 20 teams.
The ceremonies will be a celebration of the teams’ achievements and will include team friends and family as well as the local community.
The ceremonies will be an official welcome to England and Wales for thetTeam featuring their presentation of Tournament Caps and Rugby World Cup 2015 Participation Medals.
Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Cllr Tim Warren, will speak at the event to formally welcome the team to Bath and will present the captain with a gift from the Council.
He said: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome the Australian team to Bath and to one of our most iconic historic buildings.
“The city has a rich sporting heritage and is home to our very own successful rugby club. In addition, the University of Bath plays host to a myriad of Olympic, Paralympic, World, European and National champions, from swimmers to pentathletes to bobsleigh to athletics.”
Managing Director of England Rugby 2015, Steve Brown, said: “We are delighted to have secured Bath’s prestigious Assembly Rooms to host the Welcome Ceremony for Australia.
“These landmark locations from across England and Wales broaden the reach of the Tournament and will be great settings for us to welcome the players and management.
“These events will be a celebration of the Team’s achievements, alongside a warm local welcome as the 20 best Teams arrive for Rugby World Cup 2015.”
World Rugby Chairman, Bernard Lapasset, said: “Rugby World Cup 2015 is about communities and Teams uniting to celebrate Rugby, sport and friendship and these official Team Welcome Ceremonies really will set the tone for the Tournament.
“Representing your team on the greatest of stages is the pinnacle of any player’s career and the culmination of years of dedication and passion.
“Britain is renowned for its exceptional warm welcome and love of major events and I am sure that these ceremonies the length of breadth of England and Wales will be very special and cherished by both the Teams and welcoming communities alike.”
Each ceremony will have four Cap and Medal Bearers which will be 16 to 24 year olds representing the legacy of Rugby World Cup 2015.
They are selected from local clubs and educational institutions and include players, Young Rugby Ambassadors and students from schools that are part of the RFU’s All Schools programme.
RFU Rugby Development Director, Steve Grainger, said: “It is great that these Welcome Ceremonies are involving people who represent our ongoing legacy work.
“We have Medal Bearers from not only the All Schools programme, but also Young Rugby Ambassadors and young club players from the 16 to 24 age group.
“There will also be 1,000 people representing grassroots Rugby clubs invited to attend the ceremonies, which shows the strength of connection between all levels of the game.”
The ceremony will feature a performance of World in Union from The Maynard School from Exeter.
