One Year To Go

It's exactly one year until Rugby World Cup 2015 and Exeter is celebrating as the Host City counts down to the big event.

Rugby World Cup 2015 kicks off on September 18, 2015 with Sandy Park - home to the Exeter Chiefs - hosting three matches throughout the tournament.

Tickets for the matches went on sale last week, including the Sandy Park matches:

Tonga v Namibia - September 29, 2015
Namibia v Georgia - October 7, 2015
Italy v Romania - October 11, 2015

Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: "This time next year the action will be underway and in Exeter the first match will be just around the corner. It's not long now and with tickets on sale and the posts and banner up around the city, you can definitely feel the excitement starting to build."

Schools around the city have been marking the one year to go anniversary on the Cathedral Green. Five Exeter schoools (Exminster Primary, Clyst St Mary Primary, Rockbeare C of E Primary, Clyst Heath Community Primary and Kenn C of E Primary) have pledged their support for the nations playing their games at Sandy Park.

The schools marked the occasion by marching on Cathedral Green carrying the five flags of the countries taking part in Exeter. They were greeted by the Dean of the Cathedral, Dr Jonathan Draper, and then formed the shape of a giant rugby post, while Chiefs duo Tom Johnson and Luke Cowan-Dickie looked on.

Exeter Rugby Club chairman and chief executive, Tony Rowe OBE Hon LLD, said: "It's great to see so many Exeter youngsters enjoying the build-up to RWC 2015 and we're happy at Sandy Park to be involved in hosting three top-drawer matches. I personally can't wait until next September for the action to begin."

Up to one million tickets have gone on general sale for all 48 matches at RWC 2015. Ticket prices for matches at Sandy Park start at £7 for children and £15 for adults. People can apply for tickets at www.tickets.rugbyworldcup.com from September 12-29, 2014.