UFO Info Week-End

What the team have achieved is phenomenal and totally deserved said a hoarse Laura Wilkinson 29

What the team have achieved is phenomenal and totally deserved,” said a hoarse Laura Wilkinson, 29.She arrived at 2am with fellow London firefighter Leanne Radford and Olly Sell, a teacher. They amused themselves in the small hours playing rugby with a cuddly toy kangaroo belonging to one of the several university clubs who spent all night at the airport.Mark Covus from Maidenhead, Berkshire, arrived with his infant son, Matthew strapped on his back, just in time to see the players board their coach “I’ve come to see the best team in the world. I’ve been a rugby fan for 18 years and wanted to see Martin Johnson [the captain] and Jonny Wilkinson.” His wife, Helen, added: “‘Jonny kick ball’ were the first words our son learnt.”At around 5.30 the team’s bus inched out of the airport, cheered by fans in the multi-storey car park and greeted with toots from the pre-dawn commuter traffic on the 25-mile journey to a final press conference at a hotel frequently used by the team in Bagshot.Woodward, the first out in front of 150 media alongside his captain and star player, said: “When we came to the airport this morning that was something very, very special It’s starting to fully sink in what we have actually done. The whole country should be very proud of what we have achieved.”After two months ordering his players not to rise to the bait of their chief tormenter, the Sydney Daily Telegraph, Woodward told its reporter: “You can tell your readers that England is a very, very passionate sporting country. British Airways’ newly christened Sweet Chariot touched down 25 minutes early at 4.30am.To a cacophony of anthems approaching the decibel level at a Twickenham international match, Clive Woodward, the England coach, and the loose forward Neil Back were the first to emerge in the arrivals hall – but the expectant chants of “Jonny! Jonny!” told you they were the warm-up act for the new megastar of British sport.Few could have caught even a glimpse of Jonny Wilkinson, the diminutive fly-half, as he was shepherded by police the few yards into the waiting team coach, but that did not seem to wipe the smile from a single red-and-white-painted face.”The moment the game finished on Saturday morning I decided I had to come here with my friends.

Either the time was too early or the occasion too happy to issue them with tickets.But, unlike Saturday’s agonising extra-time win over Australia, the players did not keep their fans waiting. Heathrow had not witnessed such a frenzied welcome since John, Paul, George and Ringo touched down at the height of Beatlemania after a tour of the United States. Goodbye and thank you.”After the unceasing announcements and jubilation across the seas, the team touched down at Heathrow airport just after 4.33am. Judging by the thousands of fans who cheered the players off the flight, their 35,000ft-high celebrations from Sydney to London were just the beginning.. One air traffic controller sent a message congratulating Jonny Wilkinson on behalf of his daughter, Francesca.”He added: “I don’t think the team got much rest. They spent the majority of the journey celebrating with the other passengers.”The team celebrated with large quantities of Laurent-Perrier Brut champagne. An extra eight crates of beer had been loaded on to the plane for the celebrations, as well as an extensive cocktails and wine list.After nearly two months of Australian cuisine, the team tucked into a British fry-up on the plane.

Jakki Meads, 42, a banker from London, said he felt he was travelling in the company of greatness.He said: “I cannot tell you how I am feeling right now I’ve seen my idols. I’ve seen the cup.”Louise Davies, a fan from Gloucestershire who had celebrated her honeymoon by following the rugby team with her husband, Richard, managed to persuade Lawrence Dallaglio to take a cherished photograph of herself with the trophy.Air traffic controllers flooded the airwaves with messages of goodwill to the team as the jet entered Belgian air space and Captain Bob Ryan, who took over from Mr Edwards to pilot the flight from Singapore to London, said: “The messages started coming in as we entered Maastricht air space. They took the trophy to the fans and [signed] autographs for over an hour.”Fellow passengers were overwhelmed by the knowledge that they were sharing the 10,568-mile journey with the conquering players. He announced: “We are privileged to be taking home the cup and our glorious rugby team We have the trophy safely on board. All we have to do is get out of Australia.”And it only got better for the fans on board the British Airways jumbo, renamed Sweet Chariot, after further messages announced that team members, sitting in the business-class section of the plane, would be making their way down the aisles of first, traveller and economy class with the hallowed Webb Ellis Trophy, to sign autographs during the 22-hour flight.On a plane where even the trophy got its very own seat, it was relentless celebration all the way.A Rugby Union spokesman travelling with the 30-strong squad on the trip, which stopped for two hours at Singapore for a change of cabin crew, said the players were happy to meet the public despite their fatigue “It was a very good atmosphere on board.

“People were calling us favourites, but we’ve only beaten Australia once in Australia, and that was in June,” he said. “To beat them at home in the World Cup final was a massive achievement.”. For the rugby fans travelling back to England on board flight BA016, there could only have been one moment sweeter than the glorious few seconds after Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal realised the World Cup dream. It was fantastic.”For Johnson, getting back home had enabled the realisation of what his team had achieved to start sinking in a little more. It was a real connection, which possibly had not been there before.”Dawson, too, spoke of the emotional resonance of England’s support, particularly upon their homecoming. “It was hard to imagine the reaction back here when we were out in Australia,” he said.