UP and down the country, rugby clubs are welcoming a boost to the sport generated by the upcoming World Cup – nowhere more so than in Stourbridge.

The Stourton Park club will be represented at the world championships by nine members who will play their part in ‘The Pack’ – the name for volunteers who will be helping out at venues on match days.

This season’s club president, John Slim, said: “There were over 20,000 applications to join ‘The Pack’ volunteers, 10,000 interviews were carried out, with only 6,000 selected.

“So to have nine from Stour is a fantastic achievement. I wish them all the best with their volunteer work and hope that they actually get to see some of the action.”

With events planned around the club’s National Two North fixtures and social calendar, many of the World Cup’s games – which begin on Friday, September 18 – will be screened in all three bars on new big screen TVs, with meals provided before selected matches.

John added: “I hope that the renewed interest in rugby during the World Cup will have a positive effect for us and other rugby clubs in the area long after the Webb Ellis Trophy is lifted – hopefully by Chris Robshaw!”