SEEING England parade the rugby World Cup through the streets of London on Monday brought back memories of an extraordinary journey for two Bromsgrove School students.
Ben Gimson (pictured), aged 15, and Ted Harwood, aged 14, were among thousands of English fans in Australia to see Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal win the Webb Ellis Trophy.
Just days after England had beaten France in the last four, Ben and Ted's fathers decided to whisk them off to Sydney for the final.
Such was the surprise that Ben found out just 24 hours before flying out.
Preparations were hectic. They had to fly business class at £3,500 each as all economy seats had gone. They also had to hire a motorcycle courier to collect their fast-tracked passports from Durham.
Once Down Under the group were met by a limousine, as part of the business class package, and taken to a backpackers' hotel.
They had been in Oz just 13 hours by the time they were in the stadium for the final.
An overjoyed Ben said: "It's my Christmas and birthday present until I am 18."
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