Sport 25-11-2003 Rugby Heroes Touch Down who: England Rugby Team what: Welcomed by thousands of cheering fans at airport where: Heathrow when: This morning snippet: "England`s World Cup winning rugby stars have arrived back home to a rapturous welcome from thousands of fans packed around Heathrow Airport," reports the ITV news website. "Head coach Clive Woodward and his victorious players touched down shortly before 4.40am after achieving the nation`s biggest sporting triumph since 1966 in Sydney on Saturday." "Heathrow at 4.30am was like rush hour as thousands abandoned their cars on verges to dash towards the terminal," says The Independent`s James Burleigh. "A singer led the crowd of ecstatic fans, many draped in the England flag, chanting and belting out the English national anthem and Sweet Chariot," says Sky News. "I`m certainly proud to be English and very glad to be home," says fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, quoted by the BBC. "I`d just like to say a big thank you to all those people who got up so early. I`ve never seen anything like it - it`s just fantastic." Meanwhile, reports The Telegraph, the William Webb Ellis trophy "is to be taken on a two-month victory tour of England, visiting as many clubs as possible on the way. The rugby authorities are hoping to capitalise on the massively increased profile of the game and its leading players." [... more]

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