Participants of the world cup attended a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and her grandson Prince Harry.
Advertisement
Quarter-finals for the remaining 8 teams begin this weekend when Wales face South Africa.
At a welcoming party for the 20 competing nations at the start of the tournament, Harry gave a speech saying: “As a passionate rugby fan, I will share in the rollercoaster of emotions with millions of other fans around the world between now and October 31”.
Before the event, Owens, who is originally of Mynyddcerrig and now of Pontyberem, posted a picture on Twitter of him arriving. You can have that kind of banter and then get on and support the other home nations’.
Harry, the vice patron of the RFU and honorary president of England 2015, delivered a short speech at the reception at Buckingham Palace.
“I asked him if he thought people would still support now England is out”, Matfield said after meeting the prince.
“We would like to thank all of you for making England 2015 such a successful and enjoyable tournament for everybody”, he said. A showcase for rugby, which – I truly believe – will help grow the game through its excitement and increasing fan base’.
Kathryn Catto, a World Cup volunteer from Gloucester, chatted with the Queen as she mingled around the chandelier-decked ballroom.
“She said it was lovely that people from all around the country were being represented here tonight”.
In response to her admiration Mr Russell said: “It is our traditional wear so it is great to hear that and it’s good for Scotland”.
The Royal Family entered The White Drawing Room through the “secret entrance” – a door hidden in a full height mirror that leads to the Queen’s private apartments – where the monarch was presented with a specially-commissioned World Cup Participation Medal.
The All Blacks are busy preparing for their much-anticipated World Cup quarterfinal against France at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Sunday morning (NZ time) but McCaw said it will be straight back to preparations for the showdown.
‘But it’s important we see if off in the right way [and] going to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen, to get involved in what is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Advertisement
“They were absolutely blown away but I think these days we take it a bit more in our stride”.
