Rugby World Cup 2015 Fanzone opens this week as city gets ready for a tournament to remember

Rugby fans will finally be able to get in the zone this week with the official opening of the city’s Rugby World Cup 2015 Fanzone.

The dedicated area opens this Friday (Sept 18) on Millennium Square, just in time to catch the tournament’s spectacular opening ceremony on the big screen followed by England’s clash with Fiji.

With capacity for up to 4,000 fans, the Fanzone will be open until October 10 and will be free to access, screening a number of live matches on the big screen as well as hosting food, drink and entertainment alongside demonstrations from local clubs and innovative theatre productions.

The Fanzone is also home to the Rugby Activity Zone, where fans can have fun on inflatables which teach rugby tackling and passing techniques.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council said: “It’s exciting to think that’s we’re just days away from the Fanzone opening and soon we’ll have a dedicated place where thousands of fans will be able to come together and enjoy Rugby World Cup 2015.

“We’ve planned a really fun and diverse range of activities so that there’s something for everyone and I’m sure visitors will get caught up in the buzz of the tournament.”

Other events taking place in the Fanzone include This Girl Can activities, encouraging more women to get fit while taking up a new sport.

Local side The Bumbles, a mixed ability team who regularly play full contact rugby union against able bodied teams, will also be promoting disability awareness and social inclusion in sport.

Tangled Feet’s Collective Endeavour will see 300 volunteers, one for each of the starting players in the tournament, celebrate the power of teamwork with a spectacular show on September 25 while theatre company Slung Low’s touring production of Rugby Songs, which focusses on the history of the game across the world, culminates in the Fanzone on September 30.

Leeds will be hosting two games at Elland Road as part of a weekend of Rugby on September 26-27.

Italy will be playing against Canada on Saturday September 26 at 2.30pm and Scotland will be playing the USA on Sunday September 27 at 2.30pm at Elland Road, one of 13 match venues at Rugby World Cup 2015.

To view Fanzone locations and opening dates, visit www.rugbyworldcup.com/fanzones.For more information about Rugby World Cup 2015 in Leeds visit www.leeds.gov.uk/rugbyworldcup2015 or follow @RWC2015Leeds on twitter

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 224 3937

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk

Notes:

The Fanzone is open from September 18 -October 10 (closed October 9 for Light Night)

Core opening times

11am to 8pm* (Mon – Sat)

11am to 7pm (Sun)

*10pm for late games

The Rugby Activity Zone starts at midday, but is only open to the public at select times.