Top 5 World Rugby Museum Items To See Ahead Of England v France
Ahead of kick-off between England and France, visit the World Rugby Museum to enjoy an up-close look at some famous items of memorabilia collected from the two famous rugby nations, including an England cap and jersey from 1871, one of the first-ever women's match jerseys and even the Rugby World Cup trophy.
PRACTICE YOUR NATIONAL ANTHEM
Ahead of kick off between England and France, head to the interactive section of the museum to run through a pre-match vocal warm up in practicing your national anthem of choice. Both 'God Save the King', and 'La Marseillaise' are available to select in amongst a broad selection of national anthems.
FRANCE V ENGLAND PROGRAMME, 1998
In 1997 and 1998, France claimed back-to-back Grand Slams for the first time. Captained in 1997 by Abdelatif Benazzi and in 1998 by irrepressible hooker Raphaël Ibañez, the two sides married forward solidity with the natural flair of backs Thomas Castaignède and the brilliant Christophe Dominici. Coached by Jean Claude-Skrela, the side would reach the final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
ENGLAND CAP WORN BY ARTHUR GUILLEMARD, 1871
Arthur George Guillemard was of French Huguenot descent and was a pupil of Rugby School. He helped to found the West Kent club, who he represented at the first meeting of the RFU in 1871. At the meeting it was Guillemard who suggested the name 'Rugby Football Union'. He was in his time one of the safest backs and surest drops in England and went on to be the Treasurer, Secretary and President of the RFU.
FRANCE JERSEY WORN BY VIVIANE BERODIER, 1982
The first international women's Test Match was held in the city of Utrecht on 13 June 1982. France won by a single try, which was worth four points, 4-0. Full Back Viviane Berodier played for Violettes Bressanes and was selected to represent France in the first international women's Test Match. Berodier first player for Violettes Bressanes in 1975. She played 14 times for France between 1982 and 1987. The jersey was supplied by the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) to be worn in the first test-match.
RUGBY WORLD CUP TROPHY, 2003
An item of rugby memorabilia that truly speaks for itself…
1987 saw the first-ever World Cup tournament hosted by New Zealand and Australia, bringing with it the first appearance of the World Cup Trophy. In 2003 England became the first northern hemisphere nation to win the Rugby World Cup, an achievement that stands to this day.
A smaller replica of the Webb Ellis Cup is presented to each winning side to keep. Visit the World Rugby Museum to enjoy a close look at the trophy ahead of this year's tournament, where England will look to hold it once more.
Build up to kick off in Twickenham's final fixture of the Guinness Six Nations, by visiting the World Rugby Museum to spot some famous England and France memorabilia and visit the museum's brand-new special exhibition, 'Allez Les Bleus: The History of Rugby in France', to learn some more about the away nation's rugby history, from its introduction to France, to the spectacle we see today.
Book your World Rugby Museum England v France matchday visit here.