Statement on Webb Ellis Cup

Rugby World Cup 2011 tournament organisers today clarified the status of the Webb Ellis Cup which toured New Zealand on the RWC 2011 Roadshow.

“The trophy that New Zealanders saw and had their photos taken with is the Webb Ellis Cup that will be presented to the winning team at the Final of RWC 2011 on October 23 at Eden Park,” said Rugby New Zealand 2011 CEO Martin Snedden.

“After recent media coverage we have urgently sought clarification from Tournament owner Rugby World Cup Ltd as to the status of the Cup.

“We are pleased to be able to reassure all those fans who turned up early in the morning around the country that the experience they had was genuine.”

Rugby World Cup Ltd, the subsidiary of the International Rugby Board, which owns the Tournament, said it possessed two cups.

“As is common with other major sports tournaments, we have two trophies, however only one is ever used at any given point in time,” said Tournament director Kit McConnell.

“Both cups are equal in stature. There is no original cup as such, they are interchangeable and we don’t distinguish between the two. They were both acquired before the first Tournament so share the same Rugby World Cup history.

“Both have been used at past Tournaments and both have been in the hands of winning captains and teams. They both represent the spirit of the Game.

“I want to reassure New Zealand fans that the Cup they have enjoyed recently on the RWC 2011 Roadshow will be the one held aloft on October 23 by the winning captain.”