THE Webb Ellis Cup completed its whistle-stop tour of the island yesterday. Hundreds of people of all ages saw the trophy and had their photo taken when it was displayed at Foote’s Lane’s Garenne Stand.

The stand was packed with players and spectators for a youth rugby tournament.

‘This is what taking the cup around is all about, 16 teams from tag to sevens, and all about promoting rugby in schools,’ said Hampshire Rugby Union community rugby chairman Dave Marsden.

‘Wherever we go we are warmly welcomed; everybody has got a smile on their face – it’s fantastic.’

St Jacques Rugby Club was controlling the crowd waiting to be photographed.

‘There’s been a good steady stream of people and from that point of view people have a chance to look at it and spend some time and get different shots,’ said former club president and captain Jeff Guilbert.

The oldest person viewing the trophy was in their 90s and the youngest three months.

‘Some people said it was quite small and some ask if it’s gold, which it is,’ he said.

‘If you compare it to football, if England won the World Cup, you’d never get hold of it. It reflects everything about rugby; it’s gone to all the clubs and all the people – if you want to see it, you see it.’

One of many young fans to have their photo taken with the trophy was 10-year-old Pierre Le Page.

‘I think they did really well to win it. I thought it would be simpler and the trophy wouldn’t have been so grand,’ he said.

‘It’s brilliant to get up here and look at the trophy England won.’

Director of mini youth rugby Dave Parish helped organise yesterday’s tournament and made sure all the teams had their photo taken with the main attraction.

‘It’s a great memento because you don’t know when England will win it again.

‘So in 20 years’ time the kids can say ”this is me with the cup”,’ he said.

The Guernsey Rugby Club was also presented by the Rugby Football Union with a limited edition leather Gilbert rugby ball, one of only 50.

‘The tour is a way of saying thank you to all the constituent bodies, the schools, colleges and clubs, who go towards encouraging coaching rugby, because that’s where England gets their team from,’ added Mr Parish.

‘We may have a potential England player here; you never know.’

The Fermain Rugby Club was queuing in its ‘ridiculous blazers’ to have a team photo with the cup.

‘We [England] will probably never see it again, the way we played in the Six Nations,’ said Anthony Paul.

‘I remember Jonny winning it and the other 14 lending a small hand.’

Steve Camm had taken his seven-year-old son, Lawrence, and daughter, Jocelyn, 11, to see the trophy. They had watched the final at the Cobo Bay Hotel with the Wooden Spoon Society.

‘It’s a real privilege to have it in Guernsey and we’ve been very lucky because I thought there would be huge queues,’ he said.

‘I’ve been going to Twickenham for about 15 years, so to actually win something in my lifetime was quite an achievement.’

The Webb Ellis Cup had been at a civic reception and fund-raising dinner on Tuesday evening.

The events raised more £2,700 for the tour’s designated charity, the Wooden Spoon Society, and youth rugby in Guernsey.