AN estimated 4,000 people braved the elements to view the World Cup as Bromsgrove Rugby Club enjoyed the greatest day in its 132-year history.

For four hours last Friday, crowds poured through the gates of Finstall Park to get a glimpse of the William Webb Ellis trophy, won in such dramatic style by England in Australia in November.

It was a truly unprecedented sight, a continuous flow of fans queuing patiently in the rain for the chance to see and have their picture taken with a piece of sporting history.

An ecstatic Tony Finn, in his last year as club president, beamed afterwards: "To have not short of 4,000 people to come through the gates of Finstall Park for an event is unheard of. It was way beyond our expectations, but the sub-committee planned it well and I don't think we had anyone who was disappointed.

"It earned us lots of friends. It's brought the club into the focus of the people of the community who didn't know much about us. I think it's tightened the bond between the club and the community."

The trophy is currently travelling around the country on its whistle-stop Sweet Chariot Tour and the president was full of praise for the idea. "Winning the World Cup was great but putting it on show around the grass roots clubs has exploited the success wonderfully," he said.

Once supporters had weaved their way through the clubhouse and seen the trophy, they had the opportunity to test their kicking skills and try out a scrummaging machine in a marquee. Then it was on to view the game's history and interactive computer software on screens in a huge trailer on the car park.