Cheltenham Welcome Tonga Rugby World Cup Team ^Featured

But everyone can come and say hello to the team before that. The Cheltenham Trust has organised a rugby fun day at Imperial Gardens behind the town hall between 3pm and 6pm.

It will feature a giant inflatable rugby pitch, and coaching sessions for both adults and children who fancy having a go at the game. Visitors can also design their own flag and find refreshments at a barbecue.

Spokeswoman for the Cheltenham Trust Mel Jones said: "The main thing is that there is an opportunity at about 5pm to give the Tongan team a really big welcome to Cheltenham.

This is a really big thing for the town, we've never had anything like this before, and it's a unique opportunity. "The eyes of the whole world will be on Britain over the next weeks for the Rugby World Cup and it's a great honour for Cheltenham to be involved."

England will be welcomed at Sandhurst Royal Military Academyon Saturday. Youngsters from Bishop's Cleeve Primary School will be part of the official welcoming party for the rugby players who will have travelled thousands of miles to be in Gloucestershire.

Mel Jones added: "Other towns and cities are sure to pull put all the stops, so we'd really like everyone in Cheltenham to come out and really give a great welcome to the team.

"This will be a really exciting time for Cheltenham to be part of such a big event and we think ti will bring a lot of people to the town to see what it has to offer."

Cheltenham RFC based at Newlands near Bishop's Cleeve and the Prince of Wales Stadium will be the training base for both the Tonga team and the squad from Argentina. Hartpury College, Gloucester Rugby's training base will be used by Scotland.

Source: Gloucestershire Echo