World Cup winners given freedom of Rugby

Rugby came home today when England’s World Cup winners received the freedom of the town where the game was born.

Coach Clive Woodward and Northampton and England team-mates Matt Dawson and Steve Thompson took the Webb Ellis trophy to the Warwickshire town where, in 1823, Rugby School pupil William Webb Ellis invented the game.

More than 5,000 people thronged the town’s streets today to catch a glimpse of the trophy and meet the stars who defeated Australia in the final in Sydney last year.

Among the crowd outside the Town Hall was a baby boy born on November 22, the day of the World Cup final, and named Martin in honour of England’s captain, Martin Johnson.

Also present was 95-year-old rugby fan Ella Clark who earned her own Triple Crown today. She attended the squad’s welcome party at Heathrow Airport and met England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson when she made the trip to Newcastle to see him awarded the freedom of his adopted home city.

The Leicester Tigers fan said today was “lovely” but she was disappointed not to see drop-goal hero Wilkinson, her favourite rugby player.

Mrs Clark, who was photographed with England coach Woodward and the Webb Ellis trophy, said the freedom honour was a “fantastic” occasion, adding: “I love rugby but I would have loved to have seen Jonny. There’s not a bit of pride in him.”

After meeting the crowds outside the town hall, the stars were taken to visit a statue commemorating William Webb Ellis outside Rugby School and unveiled a World Cup commemorative plaque on the town’s Pathway of Rugby Fame.

Accepting the freedom honour, Woodward paid tribute to the “huge team effort” that brought England’s success, mentioning the 30 players and 18 backroom staff that helped in preparations for the event.

He said: “It was a huge team effort. I can’t say enough words about what the players did, brilliantly led by Martin Johnson.

“I am delighted to be here with the huge history of Rugby School.”

Scrum-half Dawson said: “This is the home of world rugby and to be able to bring the trophy out in front of the fans, and the support you all gave to us, will be etched into our minds for the rest of our lives.”

Hooker Thompson added: “I am very proud to be back here with so much history in Rugby of the game.

“For all those people to come out on the streets was very humbling.

“It is brilliant for us as a squad and for the whole game.”

Nominating the squad for the freedom of the borough honour, council leader Craig Humphrey paid tribute to the “recognition they have brought to the country and in particular to the home of rugby football”.

Addressing invited guests at the freedom ceremony, he added: “On behalf of the people of Rugby, we are proud to admit you to the borough. How fitting that the trophy named after William Webb Ellis should return here today.”

Although the squad joins a historic tradition of freemen stretching back centuries, they will not enjoy the right to drive sheep through the town, as their predecessors did.

But they do join a select group honoured by the town – only 20 people have received the honour in the last 40 years.