The birthplace of Rugby Union is gearing up for an influx of tourists when the sports’ world cup comes to England in September.

Rugby County Council has planned a series of events to coincide with the tournament and their head of economic development Karen Stone believes the town will be very busy.

She said:

"We have been getting the town ready for the world cup for over two years now and have been putting into place various things to raise the profile our internationally.

"We are also hoping that the profile of the tournament will make people from around this area realise that there are things to see here in Rugby.

"After all, there are not many towns in the world that can boast being the birthplace of a sport which is so internationally popular as Rugby."

Rugby Council has also undertaken several joint ventures with organisations across the town to give added attraction for visitors including a visitors centre and a museum.

Karen Stone explains:

"The visitors centre will open in early June and give out information about various different places and sights across the town to help people out.

"There will also be ‘The Rugby Experience’, a museum which has been developed together with Gilberts, who are a very well known name in the sport and based in our town."

One of the more unusual events which is likely to get people talking is the parliamentary world cup, a contest that will see teams from various governments competing against each other.

There will also be a rugby tour through the town, a route of around 1 ½ miles that will be marked out with gold rugby balls and take followers round some of the towns landmarks.

The tour will include a trip to the school where William Webb Ellis invented the game and Stone believes there is a lot to see.

She said: