b'Sir Bill Beaumont returns to Ellesmere College for Centenary MatchWorld Rugby Chairman, sporting celebrity and former Ellesmere College student, Sir Bill Beaumont, Rugby World Cup referee Luke Pearce, and Judith Phelps, Chairman of the Shropshire RFU, were welcomed to the College for a special Centenary rugby match.Bill was a special guest and Luke officiated the inaugural North Midlands Rugby Football Unions (NMRFU) Centenary Schools Challenge Cup between Ellesmere College 1st XV and Wrekin College 1st XV with Abraham Darby 1st XV, which was held as part of the NMRFUs centenary celebrations - 1920-2020. The home team were victorious in the game with a score of 35-0.Bill learned to play rugby while at Ellesmere College and went on to become Captain of the England Rugby Union Team, earning 34 caps, Chairman of the International Rugby Board and Chairman of the Rugby Football Union. He has been Chairman of World Rugby since 2016.Ian Beer, who was the Headmaster at Ellesmere CollegeBrendan Wignall, Headmaster of Ellesmere College when Bill studied at the school, also attended the matchsaid: It was an honour to host the inaugural North and caught up with Bill and a large number of returningMidlands RFU Centenary Schools Challenge Cup, OEs after the match in Big School, where the Centenarywelcome Bill back to the school and to watch Luke, a Cup was presented to the Ellesmere College 1st XVWorld Cup referee, in action, officiating the game. It team by Bill. was a brilliant match and a wonderful day, with lots of Bill said: It was a pleasure to return to Ellesmere todaysupporters cheering on the teams. Congratulations to and watch the 2019 1st XV team play. I was luckyall the players who represented their schools so well.enough to play at this school and then go on to play forIts a great time for rugby, with England making the England, Captain England and the British Lions and thenfinal of the Rugby World Cup last autumn, and were become Chairman of the RFU. Im still involved in rugbyextremely proud of all our rugby players at Ellesmere today, and its because of the people - the people makeCollege - both past and present - who have, and this game what it is - and Im proud and honoured to becontinue to, reach their potential to play on the a part of it. national and world stage.Ellesmere College Newsletter Lent Term 202017'