Post by Taxigirl on Nov 29, 2003 9:28:13 GMT
England hero Jonny Wilkinson will parade the Rugby World Cup in front of his club followers on Saturday.
The Newcastle fly-half kicked his country to World Cup glory with a dramatic extra-time drop goal against Australia last weekend.
And, although he has been rested for the Falcons' Premiership game against Wasps, he will unveil the Webb Ellis Trophy at Kingston Park before kick-off.
A sell-out crowd of 10,000 is expected for the occasion, double the usual number for Newcastle domestic home games.
Club director of rugby Rob Andrew said: "We are going to be the first club in the country to have the World Cup here and parade it around.
"It's just stunning. Jonny genuinely feels that this is his club and he is now the biggest name in the game."
The Webb Ellis Trophy will be unveiled to a much wider audience on Monday 8 December as part of an open-top bus victory parade through London.
The celebration - dubbed the Sweet Chariot victory parade - will be followed by an audience with the Queen and a reception with the Prime Minister.
Wilkinson is expected to make his first start of the season for Newcastle two days before the open-bus spectactle in time for the start of their European campaign.
Looking ahead to the game against Wasps, Andrew explained: "Jonny was never going to play.
"He's going to play in a fortnight's time against our European Challenge Cup opponents Valladolid.
"He's desperately keen to play, he's desperately keen just to get back training and just try to get some normality back into his life."