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From the field on which the game was first invented more than 150 years ago the trophy that is currently held by mighty Munster will head to the home of the 2007 final, Twickenham Stadium, on Saturday before visiting Dover, Penzance, Carlisle and Alnwick before Christmas.
"The idea behind the tour is to take the Heineken Cup out onto the road in the country that is hosting the final. We have had considerable success in stimulating interest in the tournament, and more specifically the final, in Scotland and Wales in recent years," said ERC Chief Executive Derek McGrath.
"We wanted to start in Rugby this time because this week is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the founder of our game, William Webb Ellis. I am delighted the Rugby School Head Master, Patrick Derham, was able to accommodate our request to visit his school and allow Austin to take the Heineken Cup onto The Close to pay ERC's small tribute to the man who first picked up the ball and ran with it.
"The Heineken Cup final has quickly established itself as one of the biggest showpiece events in the world game and it is fitting that in the season in which we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of William Webb Ellis' birth that our final will be staged at the home of English rugby, Twickenham Stadium."
Austin Healey will join forces with his fellow London '07 Heineken Cup final ambassador, Miss London, at the second Test between England and South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday for the second leg of the trophy tour.
From there the Heineken Cup will visit all four corners of England before returning to Twickenham before Christmas.
Last year the Heineken Cup was taken to both the highest and lowest points in Wales - the top of Mount Snowdon and the bottom of Big Pit, in Blaenavon. The year before it went to the Western Isles of Scotland and was flown at Mach 2 in an RAF fighter jet.
"The trophy tour is aimed at pointing people in the direction of the Heineken Cup final," said McGrath. "Already we have sold 25,000 and we want as many people from as many different parts of the host nation to become involved in our showpiece event."
Miss London, Claire Cooper, will accompany the Heineken Cup to Dover Rugby Club on Tuesday, 28 November and the cup will also visit Penzance later in that week. The final legs of the tour will be to England's most northerly rugby outposts, Carlisle and Alnwick.
HEINEKEN CUP TROPHY TOUR ROUTE
Rugby School to Twickenham Stadium 100 miles
Twickenham Stadium to Dover 104 miles
Dover to Penzance 355 miles
Penzance to Carlisle 458 miles
Carlisle to Alnwick 87 miles
Alnwick to Twickenham Stadium 339 miles
