GUERNSEY residents are part of the mass British invasion across the Channel for the Rugby World Cup final in Paris tonight. Some travelled to France by ferry yesterday afternoon armed with dream tickets - while other ticketless fans headed for the capital hoping to snap one up for a reasonable price.
They were hoping to get from St Malo to the capital despite a 24-hour strike by French transport workers - which they joked was sour grapes for England knocking France out of the competition last weekend.
Close Bank business manager Robbie Moore, 35, secured a ticket on Tuesday at face value of 480 euros from a contact at the Rugby Football Union who will be best man at his wedding in July.
And he has promised next weekend to make his absence from the island up to his fiancee, Fiona Rooker, a teacher at the Grammar School.
‘I apologised to her profusely and to her parents, who are coming to Guernsey this weekend, and I’m going to Paris,’ he said yesterday.
‘But I had to be there once I knew I had a ticket - it will be priceless if England win. I feel so privileged to get a ticket and seeing so many English abroad must be like a 16th man for the team. It’s hugely exciting and I can’t wait.’
He believed that if England could subdue the South Africans for the first 20 minutes and frustrate their backs, they had a great chance of winning - especially with the golden boot of Jonny Wilkinson.
‘I was fortunate to be in Sydney when they won last time and I think England’s experience from 2003 will be imperative. I’m more nervous this time because England are the underdogs,’ said Mr Moore.
Rob Palmer, 25, who works in the funds department for Credit Suisse, paid £550 for a ticket that a former university mate had picked up.
‘I’m a bit shocked. I decided only on Wednesday to go to France and it was a last-minute thing. I’m pretty pumped and really excited,’ he said.
‘South Africa are favourites, but so were Australia and France. This World Cup has taught us one thing - to expect the unexpected.
‘There are lots of tickets available - it’s just a case of finding one for a reasonable price. On eBay on Thursday, there were auctions every three minutes,’ he said.
Other Guernsey residents among the anticipated 50,000 Brits heading for the Paris showdown are travelling in hope.
Mark Stone, 26, an accountant for Credit Suisse and who plays for the Guernsey Rugby Club, was on his way to Paris with father Robert and friend Andrew Sparkes.
‘We are going on the off-chance to try and pick up tickets and the three of us are on the hunt. We have a few leads. We know it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere whatever happens,’ he said.
‘We will probably pay up to £1,000 for a pair - we were offered some for £800 each this morning.
‘We are hoping to find some disgruntled Kiwis in a pub, but everything now is a bonus.’
If they cannot snap up tickets, they plan to head for Rugby Town by the Eiffel Tower.
‘It’s going to be a good party regardless,’ said Mr Stone.
Locally, dozens of Springboks are believed to be heading for the KGV today to join local fans for the match.
The Guernsey Rugby Club and pubs island-wide will also be packed.
Bookies face their biggest rugby payout if England - at 2-1 against, with South Africa 4-11 - win.
Article posted on 20th October, 2007 - 12.00am
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