One year to go

 

A number of famous faces as well as some young aspiring players and fans have made a variety of pledges as to their aspirations over the coming twelve months, as England prepares to host Rugby’s showpiece tournament. 

 

Rugby World Cup winners in 2003 Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Lewis Moody as well as coach Sir Clive Woodward are among the line-up that have made ‘This Time Next Year …’ pledges to mark the 365-day countdown to Rugby World Cup 2015.

 

Wilkinson, renowned for the discipline that he put into his training regimes, declares he “will not be so obsessive”, while former England teammate Mike Tindall “might have a straight nose.” Moody, already boasting a head of golden flowing locks, vows “to have grown one of the world’s most horrendous mullets!” by the time the tournament kicks off on September 18 2015. 

 

Andrea Masi of Italy, James Haskell of England and Will Helu of Tonga also commit to do their utmost to be part of their respective nations’ teams at Rugby World Cup 2015. Members of Upminster RFC U11s promise to work on their tackling and passing and be as strong as they can be.

 

Also featuring in the video are Olympic Gold medallist Denise Lewis, who wishes to learn a sentence of Mandarin, long distance runner Ashley Varley, who will run seven marathons in seven days, and George Gregan, himself a Rugby World Cup winner with Australia in 1999, who simply vows to be in London for the tournament.

 

September 18 2015 will see Rugby World Cup 2015 hosts England kick off the tournament against Fiji at Twickenham as 20 sides compete for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup. Reigning champions New Zealand will begin their campaign to be the first team to retain the Trophy, when they take on Argentina at Wembley Stadium on September 20.