England to receive hero's welcome
LONDON, England -- England's World Cup-winning rugby team can expect a hero's welcome when they return home from Australia on Tuesday.
Plans are being formulated to honor the team which will arrive at Heathrow airport at 0500 GMT, with the Webb Ellis Trophy on board.
A victory celebration through the streets of London and an official reception by Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street are among the options being considered.
"We have been talking to the RFU to see how we could mark their efforts. A reception is obviously one of the things we are talking to them about," said a spokesman for the Prime Minister.
English Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron has confirmed that an England XV will tackle the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham on December 20.
The fixture, which will not be an official Test match, has been ratified by the International Rugby Board.
The Barbarians team is likely to include players from throughout the southern hemisphere, and will be their second visit to Twickenham after their defeat of England in 1996.
The RFU are expecting a capacity crowd for what is an extra game before England launch their Six Nations defense against Italy in Rome on February 15.
