Greenwood: World Cup is golden chance for Quins stars (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Greenwood: World Cup is golden chance for Quins stars

8:00am Saturday 14th January 2012 in Sport By Stuart Amos

Quins legend Will Greenwood may have lifted the greatest prize in his sport, but he has one regret – it was never done on home soil.

The long road to the 2015 World Cup final in Twickenham started on Monday when the tournament organisers moved into new offices at Webb Ellis House.

Greenwood was part of the England squad to contest the 1999 tournament when it was hosted by Wales, England, Scotland and France before famously going on to lift the trophy with Sir Clive Woodward’s class of 2003.

England Rugby 2015 chief executive Paul Vaughan expects the RFU to deliver an England team capable of producing a significantly better showing than recent efforts in New Zealand, with the first step on that road being the start of the Six Nations in February.

And when the sport’s biggest tournament arrives three years after the 2012 Olympics, Greenwood has warned the country’s current international hopefuls they will regret it if they are not part of it.

“It was great to have 10,000 people there at the airport when we came home with the trophy in 2003,” he said.

“But as a spectator I’ve seen the impact the World Cup can have on the home nation, which is why there is such a clamour for players to have their name in the ring early.

“It was pretty special to play in a World Cup final in Sydney, but it would have been the tops to run out at Twickenham in front of your home fans.

“I think there will be a realisation that there is a short-term opportunity – with an interim coach in charge – to put themselves in the frame.

“Competitors for the London Olympics are now seeing that opportunities are opening up for them.

“Rugby players should realise they must do everything to give themselves the best chance of being in that squad when it is announced.”

The event is expected to bring an influx of more than 350,000 fans into the country to help deliver the worldwide game an £80m shot in the arm.

But it is at home where it is hoped the biggest impact will be felt as the RFU bid to halt the decline in playing numbers across the English game.

The 2007 World Cup ushered in a 30 to 40 per cent increase in the number of registered players in host nation France.

And Greenwood hopes that boost can be grasped to the benefit of local clubs like Teddington, Twickenham, Thamesians, Harlequins Amateurs and newly formed Whitton Lions.

“You go to quality rugby clubs around the country and playing numbers aren’t there,” he added.

“The RFU have tried a few initiatives that – with all the best intentions – haven’t delivered. If really good initiatives aren’t getting there then you have got to use a home-based World Cup.”

By numbers: £80m – The amount tournament organisers expect to make in profit.

20 – Number of countries expected to take part. Twelve are qualified already.

2.8m-3m – Number of tickets organisers aim to sell.

£10 – The amount some tickets for selected World Cup group games will cost.

350,000 – The number of people from outside the UK expected to attend.

12 – Number of stadiums to be used for the competition, including Twickenham. Only Leicester’s Welford Road and Gloucester’s Kingsholm are dedicated club rugby grounds.

110 – The number of people working for England Rugby 2015 at Webb Ellis House.