Playing the style game
01-Mar-07
This September sees the Rugby World Cup switch hemispheres as France becomes host for the sixth tournament. If 2003 in Australia was characterised by beery 'chuck another prawn on the barbie' bonhomie, France 2007 offers the opportunity to really take in a sporting event in style.
Proximity to the UK means thousands of spectators are expected to make the journey across La Manche to see some of the 48 games. Games are spread evenly around the country, with Edinburgh and Cardiff also hosting several group games.
But it is France that is providing the sumptuous backdrop to the tournament. Not only does it offer wonderful stadia, it also offers gorgeous hotels, mouthwatering cuisine, stunning landscape and the chance to toast the winners with the vintage of your choice.
Tickets for the tournament are not as tightly held as with the football World Cup. As well as buying into official hospitality packages from approved suppliers such as Mike Burton Group and Gullivers, fans have been able to buy tickets directly online from the organisers for the first time.
Ticket-only packages are reasonably priced. England tickets start from £90 and clients can catch all of Scotland's games for £68. Of course, this masks the price of better tickets at the top games. The best seats for England v South Africa in Saint Denis are EUR253 (£170), the most expensive in the group stages.
Justin Hopwood, marketing manager of Mike Burton Travel, which runs the official England rugby travel club, says World Cup '07 will cater for all tastes. "We will be taking everybody - from the guy who just wants a coach to the game, a ticket and night in a cheap hotel, to somebody who wants a 10-day stay at the top end, with business class flights, private transfers and fine dining."
Interest has been huge, with one million tickets snapped up a year before the tournament. When tickets for individual games went on sale in November, 170,000 were bought in the first eight hours and organisers are expecting two million tickets. Despite this, hospitality organisers stress the need to avoid the black market. "As with the football World Cup, these tickets can be confiscated," says Richard Waddington, chief executive of hospitality agency First Protocol.
The proximity of France means that many will be letting the train take the strain. Eurostar's parent, SNCF, is a sponsor, and provides TGV links to many of the host cities. For flyers, Air France has the most complete range of destinations, while BA flies to seven of the host cities. For those looking for a bit more flexibility, private jet operators are offering direct flights to France. Amsair can provide a 12-seat executive jet for around £12,000.
A tournament that only comes around every four years, it's worth clients making the most of its European location - in 2011, the World Cup is heading back to New Zealand.
INSIDER'S GUIDE
John Hall, Chairman, Gullivers Sport Travel
Gullivers Sports Travel is an official supplier of packages to RWC. Chairman John Hall played for Gloucester, was an England triallist and has played against the All Blacks
We've been involved with the Rugby World Cup since the first one in New Zealand in 1987. Even then we took 750 clients from the UK and 750 from France. We have 5,000 booked for France, plus the same number of inbound travellers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Rugby travellers no longer want to simply rough it. We find that the packages that sell first are the top-end ones. Our customers want more than just to have a beer and watch the match. It may sound odd to talk about rugby and culture in the same sentence, but people want to eat in good restaurants, visit chateaux for wine tasting and even take in some golf - all of which we are organising.
Some of our Kiwi customers are coming over for the full, 59-day tour. With the Rugby World Cup, there is a lot of time in between games. They are interested in culture and history - a lot of Australians and New Zealanders also want to visit the battlefields of France.
Our biggest-selling games have been the England matches and the quarter finals in Marseilles are a big focus. Hotel space is limited, so we have chartered the luxury cruise ship Club Med 2. We'll have Martin Johnson on board, and if results go badly, it could be the last time he's able to call himself the reigning World Cup-holding captain. The Irish have two games in Bordeaux, which will be a great party atmosphere, but the final is going to be the big one. For fans looking to push the boat out, opt for a room at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe and a late lunch at Guy Savoir or Les Deux Maggots, before the game at the Stade de France.
www.gulliversports.co.uk
INSIDER'S Q&A
Andy Nicol former Calcutta cup-winning scottish captain & BBC Radio Five commentator
- What will France be like as a host for the Rugby World Cup?
France is a wonderful country to visit and in which to play rugby. The South in particular is rugby heartland, with teams suuch as Toulouse, Marseilles and Perpignan. They absolutely love the game and the grounds are fantastic.
- Did you have a favourite French ground as a player?
My favourite has to be Bordeaux, where I captained Bath to the Heineken Cup in 1998 at the Stade Lescure. We were up against the reigning champions Brive and the atmosphere was amazing.
I've played in the Stade de France for Scotland and that is a wonderful stadium. There is a different noise created by 80,000 Frenchmen. Scotland are playing two games at St Etienne, which I visited for the football World Cup in 1998, when we lost 3-0 to Morocco. Hopefully we'll have better luck there against the Italians, which is our key game.
- What are you looking forward to doing outside of the games?
You can't go to France for a tournament without also taking in some of the country. There will be more to this visit than just rugby. I may be doing some corporate work, so I'm sure we'll be visiting a range of vineyards and sampling some of the food and drink.
- Do you have a favourite restaurant or hotel in France?
For my first wedding anniversary, we went to Monte Carlo and stayed in the Hotel de Paris, which was pretty spectacular. After that we went to a lovely little place called the Hotel de Mougins, near Cannes. It's a small, walled town and has a couple of Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Who do you think will win this year's World Cup?
It's hard to look beyond New Zealand (the host nation, above, next time around), who have been the form team for the past couple of years. However, that was the case going into the last two World Cups and they have been undone. With every hope in the world, unfortunately I don't think Scotland will be there, so a New Zealand v France final would be fantastic.
INSIDER'S GUIDE
Margaret Jennings, Event Director, Altitude
If your client is unfortunate enough to have another half who is fanatical about rugby and they are being dragged along, don't despair. There are lots of other things for other halves to do in the cities where the matches are being played.
In Edinburgh, it has to be all about the culture and sightseeing. The castle is a hugely prominent feature and draws hundreds of tourists every year. I would suggest visiting it at lunchtime to experience the famous One O'Clock Gun. In addition to getting the best history lesson since they were 10, they will also have fabulous panoramic views over all of Edinburgh.
For those that find themselves in France, the weather in the more southern cities will still be delightful. In Marseilles, they could easily while away the days in the warm sunshine. Hire a bike for a ride along the sea front, make a day visit to Aix en Provence and wander round this pretty and historic city. Perhaps even a day trip into the Carmargue, the land of flamingos and cowboys! Trying to find alternatives in Bordeaux is easy because one activity comes up regularly - wine tasting: there are numerous vineyards to visit for a private tasting session. Stay at the exclusive Sources de Caudalie and enjoy not only wine tasting, but also a day in its cookery school. After all the indulgence, clients can swim in the outdoor pool and have a detoxifying wrap in the hotel's exclusive Vinotherapie Spa. The beauty of being in France is that even if clients don't feel like doing too much, they can just sit in a cafe and watch the world go by.
www.altitudetravel.co.uk
Ways to avoid the rugby
France
Spas - Evian-les Bains is about two hours from Lyons, but the trip to the picturesque thermal spa resort is worthwhile. The Evian Royal Resort has two kids' resorts. For the ultimate in luxury on cup final day, how about a caviar treatment at the Ritz in Paris.
Shopping - The Golden Triangle in central Paris will spoil clients for choice when it comes to luxury brands.
Sightseeing - no trip to France is complete without a visit to Parc Asterix, to the north of Paris. For the less Francophile child, Disneyland Resort Paris is nearby. Then hit the Champagne trail with visits to Epernay, Troyes and Hautvilliers, where Dom Perignon invented bubbly.
Restaurants - Gastronomic favourites such as Le Cinq and Alain Ducasse in Paris should help take your client's mind off the sport.
Edinburgh
Spas - after a hard day's sightseeing, the One Spa at The Sheraton Grand is bang in the centre of things. The Balmoral Spa includes a special menu from Michelin-starred Jeff Bland.
Shopping - you can't escape tartan in the Scottish capital and The Royal Mile is the place to get clients kilted up. Check out Geoffrey (tailor) where, as well as the traditional models, they can run you up a modern version in denim, leather or whatever takes your client's fancy. Harvey Nichols offers more conventional retail therapy and has a fabulous restaurant, Forth Floor.
Sightseeing - no trip to Edinburgh is complete without climbing the castle to see the Scottish crown jewels, listen to the One O'Clock Gun and bask in history. For a different angle on the capital, take kids to the Camera Obscura, just outside the gates, before the zoo.
Restaurants - Scottish cuisine has come a long way since the deep-fried Mars bar. Check out the stunning views from Oloroso's balcony, recline in the decadent atmosphere of Tiger Lily or check out Martin Wishart's award-winning restaurant in Leith.
Cardiff
Spas - the five-star St David's Hotel features a range of thalassotherapy treatments. The Vale Hotel was voted Wales' best spa resort in 2006.
Shopping - the Victorian Royal Arcade is probably Cardiff's oldest shopping arcade and home to many upmarket stores. For more alternative choices, head to St Mary's Street.
Sightseeing - hire a boat from Seren-y-Bae to Cardiff Bay for a spectacular view of the waterfront. Track the footsteps of the Dr Who spin-off Torchwood, which was filmed in Cardiff.
Restaurants - The Armless Dragon promises a taste of Wales with dishes such as seafood cawl and Brecon lamb. Brazz, in the Wales Millennium Centre offers a modern British menu.
