THE RUGBY World Cup trophy will be taken round the region next month (August).

The William Webb Ellis trophy is on a 12-month world tour ahead of the tournament being held in England this autumn.

It will be on public display at: Gateshead International Stadium on Sunday, August 2 from 5pm to 6pm; Palace Green, Durham on Monday, August 3 from 10am to 1pm; and then at West Hartlepool RFC on Monday, August 3 until 3pm.

Former stars Ollie Phillips and Jason Leonard will join the tour.

Mr Leonard, who won the World Cup with England in 2003 and is now president of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), will officially open West Hartlepool RFU’s new £900,000 clubhouse.

Club secretary Graham Frankland said: “It was a very special moment when we were named as one of the very few clubs that would host the cup.

“To get this opportunity is amazing and to open the clubhouse while the trophy is here will be a fantastic occasion.”

There will also be a celebratory dinner at Barnard Castle School attended by old boys Rory Underwood and Rob Andrew, both of whom went on to play for England.

The Rugby World Cup opens with England playing Fiji at Twickenham on Friday, September 18.