AFTER all the euphoria emanating from England's memorable World Cup triumph in Sydney, international rugby comes to the quaintly named Piddle Park this weekend, writes Mer-vyn Collins.

India, one of the new members of the International Rugby Board, will play against a Pershore President's XV on Sunday - the first of three matches on a short tour of the Midlands.

The tour is being undertaken in an attempt to raise the profile of rugby among Asian communities and India will be based at the Wood Norton Hall Hotel in Evesham during a tour that will also take in games at Coventry next Wednesday and a Leicester XV at Welford Road on Sunday, December 21

"India has a rich heritage in the game but, due to some reasons, the sport has never taken off as it should have done," said Pramod Khanna, the Indian RFU president.

"Nevertheless, the potential is far more than what one sees, and therefore it is the concerted effort of a few dedicated die-hards and lovers of the game who have taken it upon themselves to promote and popularise it in India."

The match originated as a result of a conversation between club officials and local businessman Raj Prohit.

"Raj approached the club and mentioned that the Indian team were touring and said that they were looking for base," secretary Emma Wilesmith said.

"It all spiralled from there and Raj has helped to arrange the trip and the Indian team will be using our facilities to prepare for the matches. We are delighted to be hosting such a prestigious match."

Pershore, currently enjoying a rich vein of form in Midlands Two West (South), have strengthened their squad with the inclusion of players from Stourbridge, Malvern, Bromsgrove and Droitwich.

Club captain Andy Watson will captain a side that will need to be at its best to overcome opponents currently ranked 89th in the official IRB World Rankings having recently hosted their first-ever official Test Match when they took on Chinese Taipei in Calc-utta in the IRB's Asian Quad-rangular competition.

"It's going to be the biggest game in the club's 40-year history," the skipper (right) declared. "I just hope that the side will be stro-ng enough although it's difficult to gauge just how good they will be."

We've brought in players from outside although the way the first team is playing at present that might not have been necessary!"

The eight Piddle Parkers in the starting 15 are Watson, Andrew Rush, Karl Evans, Levin Widmer, Martin Hope, Brian "Sid" Hirons, Steve Holmes and Benjamin Pullen.

Nasser Hussain, not the former England cricket captain, is perhaps the most recognisable name in the touring party that includes seven policemen, two students, a travel agent, teacher and film actor/director Rahul Bose who will fill either the scrum-half position or play out in the wings!

Fly-half and businessman Chaltanya Sinh has captained the Indian team for the past four years and among his ranks he can boast "Madmax", centre Pachalappan Madhesh, "Pong", prop Pravin Kuralkar and "Dumbass", student prop Sarvinder Dabas!

Sunday's match kicks off at 2pm - gates open at 12 noon - and admission is by brochure at £5 per head. Children under 14 will be admitted free.

The match will be followed by a Gala Dinner that will be attended by local MPs, officials from both the English and Indian RFU.