Martin Voller ponders the prospect of middle class rugby migrating to the East End.
‘I’m expecting a large number of fans from East London to show up. Hopefully the World Cup will be inspirational and educational for a wide audience.’
World Cup – East London? Whatever happened to Russia?
But this particular World Cup hopeful is Matt Emery, news editor of The Rugby Paper, setting his sights on the Rugby World Cup which is coming to the East End in September and October 2015.
Stratford’s Olympic Stadium will be one of 12 host venues when 20 of the world’s best rugby nations compete to get their hands on the prestigious Webb Ellis Cup next year.
Rugby has never been seen before at the 54,000-seater stadium at the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, but it will play host to powerhouses such as Ireland, France, South Africa and current holders New Zealand, as well as the third place play-off.
Ticket demand is high. Tickets for all 48 matches will have to go to ballot in at least one of the four price categories.
But who’s buying? Rugby is normally considered a middle class game, so how will it go down on the home turf of London’s working class? And who will be filling Stratford’s seats? Pimm’s-drinking West Londoners, perhaps?
Emery believes the tournament will be a local success: ‘Local fans will see up close what a great game it is for all shapes and sizes, regardless of which school they went to.’
Ilford Wanderers RFC Club Executive Steve Stuckey is not so sure. He thinks high ticket prices may be off-putting to local people, adding ‘many people will travel to the games but mainly from Essex and the eastern counties.’
But Stratford resident and captain of UEL men’s First XV, Frank Sackey, hopes the Rugby World Cup will rekindle the spirit of London 2012.
‘It’s a good example of the legacy that London 2012 left behind,’ said Sackey. ‘People will travel from all over the country to Stratford and it will once again energise the area that has had a huge influx of residents and tourists since it was in the world’s focus.’