As many as half a million people were expected to throng the streets of central London on Monday for England’s Rugby World Cup victory parade.
The city’s West End is expected to grind to a halt when England’s heroes arrive to show off the William Webb Ellis trophy, following their 20-17 victory over Australia last month.
Fans have been advised to allow plenty of time for their journeys with organisers warning of traffic chaos, closed streets and chilly weather.
England’s players and management will leave Marble Arch at noon in two open-top buses and travel along Oxford street to Oxford Circus, then down Regent Street, around Piccadilly Circus, down Haymarket to Trafalgar Square for a reception at 1pm GMT.
A selection of players and management, including coach Clive Woodward, captain Martin Johnson and fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, will then be interviewed.
The team are to be received by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace followed by an official reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Mayor Ken Livingstone said: ”Monday will be a great day of celebration and should be an occasion for everyone to enjoy.”
Fans have been arriving in central London since early morning and the atmosphere is likely to be electric when the England team
finally arrive.
The last time a World Cup came into the country was in 1966 when England’s soccer players triumphed over West Germany. — Sapa-AFP