RUGBY union's greatest prize the Webb Ellis Cup, will visit Liverpool St Helens on Tuesday, July 28 as part of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour ahead of the opening ceremony at Twickenham in September.

LSH, the oldest open rugby club in the world, will celebrate with a range of spectacular events at Moss Lane.

There is a Tag Rugby Festival for U7 and U8 from 12 clubs, LSH, Wigan, Sefton, Waterloo, Widnes, Southport, West Park, Orrell, Warrington, and Tyldesley, and from rugby league Pilkington Recs and Portico Vine.

20 teams and 236 players will take part in a competition run by RFU and LSH Community Rugby Coaches aided by players and coaches from Sale Sharks.

All players will receive commemorative medals.

The Webb Ellis Trophy is due to arrive at 11am with an opportunity for all to be photographed with it until its departure at 1pm.

Meanwhile a Family Fun Day will get underway with a “pitch up and play” event for all ages and a special Wooden Spoon lunch – the children’s charity of rugby– will take place in the LSH clubhouse.

Among the day’s guests will be the Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, councillors, representatives from West Park, Ruskin Park and Newton rugby clubs, members of the St Helens District Sports Council and Sports Development Unit, and at least four ex-England internationals including three former British Lions including Bill Beaumont and Fran Cotton.

“Rugby World Cup is a massive event, and we know the youngsters are enthused at being a part of it,” said LSH event organiser John Bithell.

“This is quite a coup both for the club and for the town.

"We are particularly pleased that some of our friends from rugby league have agreed to join us in what we are pleased to call a ‘Rugby United’ event.”

The journey throughout the UK and Ireland aims to engage fans and give them the opportunity to build unforgettable memories as part of their own Rugby World Cup 2015 story.

Rugby is at the heart of the Trophy Tour engaging with over 100 rugby clubs, organisations and rugby festivals, from grassroots to elite.

In addition Host Cities, Match Venues, community and legacy programmes, sports events, stakeholder visits, Worldwide Partner activations and iconic landmarks feature as part of the Trophy Tour with over 300 events programmed across the 100 day continuous tour.

Liverpool St Helens’ preparations for the new season began in fine style with the visit of Wales and former British and Ireland Lions Head Coach Warren Gatland to Moss Lane.

A packed clubhouse was roundly entertained following which the New Zealand rugby legend inspected the newly refurbished Wilmot Lounge.

Senior training is in full swing and new recruits are welcome.

Newcomers from either code are invited to make a trip down Moss Lane to see for themselves.

An exciting and competitive season ahead includes the visit of the World Cup on what will be a spectacular day on Tuesday 28 July and rounds off with a club tour to Spain.