Historic Surrey rugby club Old Emanuel will be presented with a special commemorative plaque at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday February 6.
The New Malden-based club will be at the home of England Rugby as special guests of the Rugby Football Union because they are celebrating their centenary at the same time as 100 years of rugby at Twickenham Stadium.
England's RBS 6 Nations match against Wales marks 100 years since the first international at the famous stadium was played between the same two sides, and Old Emanuel will be among seven clubs whose own centenary will be marked at the historic occasion.
The Centenary Ambassadors - Rob Andrew, Bill Beaumont, Lawrence Dallaglio, Alastair Hignell and Dickie Jeeps - and the RFU President, John Owen, will present plaques to Club Presidents from the seven clubs. Old Emanuel will be joined by Bournville, Nuneaton OE, Bancroft, Oxford, Huddersfield and Broad Plain.
Old Emanuel was founded in 1910 and matches were originally played on a ground in Earlsfield before the current home at Blagdons Sports Ground was established in the mid 1920s.
The club has enjoyed many fine players representing England A, England Students, England Colts, Scotland U21, Combined Services, Surrey and Combined London Old Boys, and embraced league and cup rugby wholeheartedly without forgetting the traditional virtues of touring.
The club has also been awarded the RFU Mini & Youth Seal of Approval which recognises quality in the provision of youth rugby.
The plaque presentation to Old Emanuel at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday will form part of a wide range of pre-match and half time entertainment that reflects the rich history of the stadium and the match but which also has contemporary relevance.
The centrepiece of the pre-match show will be the singing of Jerusalem and the National Anthem by over 300 members of massed choirs laid out in a huge human St. George Cross with choristers drawn from local schools and amateur choirs and the London Community Gospel Choir backed by the Royal Artillery Band.
Prior to this the local schools' choirs and amateur choirs will perform pre-match on the North, East and South concourses and the military band will perform a marching display on the pitch before kick-off before they all join together on the pitch.
As part of the pre match entertainment the RFU party will celebrate the bravery of injured service personnel by including in the guard of honour eight members of the armed forces from Headley Court and Selly Oak, two of the rehabilitation centres, all of whom were injured in recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and who have overcome huge personal, physical and mental obstacles to be there on the day.
John Owen, President of the RFU, said: "The Centenary Game is more than just a game of rugby and Twickenham is more than just a stadium.
"Over the past 100 years it has become part of the fabric of England and of the local community and a focal point of celebration for the game of rugby in the country and around the world.
"We wanted to put on a show that would reflect all of that history and which allowed our community partners to be a part of it.
"At the same time, we have been closely linked with the military for most of those 100 years, including acting as an ammunition depot in the Second World War so the day will also allow us to recognise the fantastic work that our armed forces do every day in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.
"It will be a day rich with tradition."
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