Rugby World Cup 2015 in Birmingham (September 2015)

I can't believe that it has already been 4 years since the Rugby World Cup was held in England in 2015. As the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup has already got underway. Looking back to September 2015, when a giant rugby ball was in Centenary Square (in front of the Library of Birmingham), and a Fan Zone set up on Eastside Green (now HS2 development land at Curzon Street Station).

Giant Rugby Ball in Centenary Square

The Rugby World Cup 2015 got under way on the 18th September 2015, held in England (it finished on the 31st October 2015). Villa Park was used as a venue in Birmingham. On the day that the new Birmingham New Street Station opened, I headed over the Centenary Square to check out the giant rugby ball.

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From the period of 2013 to 2017 there was grass in front of the Library of Birmingham, and to the right they place the giant rugby ball.

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You could use the hashtag #RWC2015 on Twitter. In late September 2015 was the last time that you could see The Big Hoot 2015 in Centenary Square, before the owls were sold off for auction.

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Towards Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory. The now closed Birmingham Central Library had yet to be demolished (that would start in December 2015).

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Fan Zone Birmingham at Eastside Green

The fan zone was being set up around the middle of September 2015. Here you could see it from Eastside City Park.

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Barriers in the way, but you could see some Rugby World Cup 2015 goal posts that fans could play with.

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There was also fun fair rides being set up.

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Best view from the train. This on the day I caught a train from Stechford to the newly reopened Birmingham New Street Station, 4 years ago in September 2015. Passing the old Curzon Street Station in Eastside.

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The Masshouse apartment blocks dominates the scene as the England 2015 Rugby goal posts was now full inflated for fans to interact with.

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The fun fair rides seen to the left.

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Birmingham Snow Hill Station - Livery Street Entrance

I saw signs and banners for the Rugby World Cup 2015 at Birmingham Snow Hill Station during October 2015 (probably near the end of the last World Cup). Didn't really follow the matches, but sounds like England got knocked out in the group stages, and they were the hosts!  These banners seen near the ticket machine, close to the doors of the Livery Street Entrance.

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RWC15 bunting on both sides of the tunnel to the escalators and stairsto platforms 1, 2 and 3.

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Combo of various signs with #RWC2015 and England 2015 at the Livery Street Entrance of Birmingham Snow Hill Station. Always seems like it's just me whenever I used this entrance (guess everyone else is using Colmore Row).

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The England 2015 bunting seen in the Livery Street Entrance at platform 1 and 2 at Birmingham Snow Hill Station. Assume that I probably got the train to Snow Hill Station and getting off on platform 1 (at the time - it was 4 years ago). At this stage it's the semi finals with only the southern hemisphere sides remaining (Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina).

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The champions was New Zealand. Australia was the runners up.

Matches at Villa Park included on the following dates:

26th September 2015 - South Africa 46-6 Samoa in Pool B.
27th September 2015 - Australia 65-8 Uruguay in Pool A.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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