Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup kicks off in France in September and no sport attracts a larger number of premium beer
drinkers. So where should you go for a decent beer during the six weeks that the tournament is on? All Black devotee Dominic Roskrow scrums down
Is it really three and half years since that heady, sticky, steamy night in Sydney when England battled the host nation for the last rugby union World Cup?
Nearly four years since a tired but resilient Australia drew on every ounce of gutsy determination, willpower and energy to drag the match into extra time and to threaten to deprive England of the Webb Ellis trophy it had so richly deserved? And more than 40 months since the golden boot of Jonny Wilkinson sent over the drop goal that would snatch that cup back from under the noses of Australia in its own back yard?
Has a sporting moment ever been set up so perfectly and executed more brilliantly? And how many times have English die-hards watched those moments over and over again?
Much has happened since then of course, and few English fans will be approaching this autumn’s event with the arrogant swagger of reigning champions. English rugby has taken a thumping since Martin Johnson and his troops brought the World Cup to the Northern Hemisphere for the first time and then walked off into the sunset. Or at least some of them did.
This autumn the jamboree heads to France, and beer-loving rugby fans from across the world will turn eight of its cities into a festival of fun.
There are four groups of five teams, each playing each other once. Two teams qualify from each group for a quarter final. In all there will be 40 group games beginning on September 8, and a further eight games before the final at the glorious Stade .....
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By Dominic Roskrow
Section : Beer and Sport
Page number : 20
