THE FIRST cast of a famous statue depicting the historic moment a young William Webb Ellis invented the game of Rugby has gone on display in the town.
The fibreglass cast was the first incarnation of the town’s iconic statue, which was then cast in bronze to create the monument which has stood outside Rugby School, where Webb Ellis was a pupil, since 1997.
The original cast has remained in sculptor Graham Ibbeson’s Barnsley workshop for nearly 20 years but is now on display at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum ahead of the Rugby World Cup later this year.
Simon Gardner, manager of Rugby Visitor Centre, said: “I’m delighted Graham Ibbeson has lent his support to the town’s world cup celebrations by creating replicas of the iconic statue and I’m sure many visitors will seize the opportunity to take a unique souvenir of Rugby home with them.”
