Following the volunteer selection events, known as Try Outs, which have taken place across every Rugby World Cup 2015 host city, initial offers to join The Pack will be made from now until the end of March.

More than 20,000 applications were received following the launch of the volunteer programme, with over 10,000 interviews held between June and December 2014.

England Rugby 2015 have now begun the process of sending offers to fill the 6,000 volunteer roles needed for the smooth operation of the World Cup.

Prospective volunteers range from the age of 18 to 86 and offers will be made by role, rather than by venue, to ensure all tournament role requirements are met, England Rugby report.

Roles will largely be based in spectator services and transport, with The Pack covering the full event footprint to ensure a warm welcome and on-hand support throughout match days.

Further specialised roles will be offered across teams including catering, freight and logistics, accreditation, press operations, tournament guests and protocol and workforce operations.

Around 6,000 volunteers will be selected to represent The Pack at the 2015 Rugby World Cup ©England 2015


"We have been delighted by the response to The Pack recruitment programme and thank everyone who has taken the time to apply and attend interviews," said England Rugby 2015 chief executive, Debbie Jevans.

"With over 20,000 applications and 10,000 interviews spanning some 3,333 hours and 1,320 miles, we have now begun to send offers to join the Pack to 6,000 of those that applied.

"The selection process has been really difficult as the knowledge, enthusiasm, skills and passion of all the applicants has been really impressive.

"We now look forward to building The Pack who are an integral part of the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2015 and who will help us welcome the world to England and to Cardiff in September this year."

Members of The Pack will come from the rugby community, working directly with clubs in England and Wales to recognise those who support and deliver the game week in week out, as well as from the general public, maximising the opportunity to welcome new people to rugby through the tournament.

"I'm really pleased to be part of The Pack programme. Attending the Try Outs gave me a real insight into the way volunteers will help deliver Rugby World Cup 2015," said England Rugby 2015 ambassador Jonny Wilkinson.

"Having been part of previous tournaments I know just how important volunteers are, not only as part of the fan experience but also the teams and all of the organisational elements behind the scenes.

"Rugby is built on volunteers and The Pack will be one of the key factors in making Rugby World Cup 2015 the best tournament to date.

The news comes shortly after the first European leg of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, which visited Italy last week as part of a journey spanning 15 countries over 12 months.

In 2014, the trophy visited Japan, Australia, Fiji, Madagascar, South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, United States, United Arab Emirates and China, and the European leg will continue with a visit to Romania in March ahead of arrival on British shores. 

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