English fans recall that night in Sydney

One year anniversary of the Australian adventure

English fans have never had so much to shout about since they beat Australia 20-17 in the Final of the 2003 World Cup in Sydney. Monday marks the anniversary of this event that will be engraved into the history of a nation.

From the fanatical English supporter, of which there were many, spending more time in the air than they did on the ground just to be at the World Cup Final - to the backpacker who was caught up in the euphoria of the tournament and stood singing in the rain.

From the group of friends who were cracking open an early morning celebratory beer - to those who tuned into the radio and listened gripped to Ian Robertson's immortal words, "England have just won the World Cup".

Everyone has their story. It was a magical moment that on Monday will be one year old.

All the memories will return and, in one of those wonderful coincidences that sport throws up, the first anniversary of England's 20-17, extra-time win over Australia falls as the two sides begin preparations for a rematch at Twickenham on Saturday.

"It really showed what England can do and have been capable of and wanted for so long," said Tom Hill, from the England Rugby Supporters' Club (ERSC).

"Whatever people say about how much money was spent in winning the World Cup, it shows England have turned the corner and have been successful and years of support from the fans has paid off.

"The celebrations showed what it meant to England fans, especially when you compare it with the Olympic parade. This was one sport, one team."

There were an estimated 35,000 England supporters in the Telstra Stadium for the Final. Thousands more watched on big screens in the city and it was as if none of them went to bed for two days.

The heart of Sydney was as busy at 05.00 after the Final as a regular Saturday afternoon and everywhere there was someone singing.

"Here's to you Jason Robinson, England loves you more than you will know" sang one, "Jonny, Jonny, Jonny, Jonny Wilkinson" chanted another.

"I remember the absolutely, overwhelming number of white and red jerseys, the number of England fans out-singing, out-joking and outdoing the Aussies at every single thing," recalled Hill.

"But equally there was such a good-hearted atmosphere. The one thing I do remember mostly was how gracious the Aussies were. There were no sour grapes. Everybody stuck around for the presentations, they wanted to applaud the Australians for their part."

On Sunday night, the England Rugby Supporters' Club celebrated the day with a full re-run of the game on a big screen at Twickenham.

Harlequins boss Mark Evans talked to supporters about the state of the game in England before everyone tucked into Yorkshire pudding and sat down to watch the gripping contest all over again.

"We had a huge number of letters from people moved by the event. A huge bald-headed Chelsea fan had written a poem about how it moved him to tears.

"He stood in the office and read it out to curators of the rugby museum at Twickenham. He said it was one of the most moving things he had ever experienced.

"I left here Wednesday, got there Friday morning and was back at work for a meeting on Monday."

England's World Cup win has done wonders for the sport. Rugby is thriving from an increased player-base, increased sponsorship and hospitality revenues and - perhaps most importantly, for the future of the game, increased interest.

The ranks of the ERSC swelled by 7,000 in the month after the World Cup and it now has somewhere in the region of 20,000 members.

Interestingly, the majority are not members of a rugby club. This opens the sport up to a whole new breed of rugby supporters who can now apply for tickets to watch England and that interest will then filter down.

"A lot of people were persuaded into enjoying rugby as a result of the World Cup.

"A lot didn't understand it and thought it was a public school, rah rah sport.

"But they realised it is the opposite of a football World Cup, the players conduct themselves differently and we have gained a lot of England fans who had no idea about the game before.

"The supporters' club was set up to widen support of England and widen access to the game. One of the most important things fans wanted was the chance to meet other supporters and talk rugby."

Not all those members will be there on Monday, but the event is a sell-out and everyone will be talking rugby. England supporters will exchange stories and their own memories of that golden moment.

"A lost of the members weren't born in 1966 when England won the football World Cup. Sport has changed since then," said Hill.

"It is definitely one of those 'where were you' moments? I've made a scrap-book of the whole event. It is that important. People will look back on it in years to come.

"We plan to organise something to celebrate the day every year."