This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7052323.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| England rugby fans head to Paris | England rugby fans head to Paris |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of England rugby fans are heading to Paris hoping for World Cup victory against South Africa. | Thousands of England rugby fans are heading to Paris hoping for World Cup victory against South Africa. |
| Continuing transport strikes in Paris failed to deter fans as they arrived for Saturday's game. | Continuing transport strikes in Paris failed to deter fans as they arrived for Saturday's game. |
| About half of Paris's Metro services and a third of local mainline trains were closed but Eurostar trains from London were operating. | About half of Paris's Metro services and a third of local mainline trains were closed but Eurostar trains from London were operating. |
| Many fans have already arrived, but thousands more, some without tickets, are due throughout Friday and Saturday. | Many fans have already arrived, but thousands more, some without tickets, are due throughout Friday and Saturday. |
| A spokeswoman for Eurostar said despite the strike on the French side, 25,000 fans were being ferried to Paris for the final, all of them "in fine form". | A spokeswoman for Eurostar said despite the strike on the French side, 25,000 fans were being ferried to Paris for the final, all of them "in fine form". |
| "South African supporters were mixing happily with English fans. There was a good atmosphere. It seemed everyone was wearing team colours." | "South African supporters were mixing happily with English fans. There was a good atmosphere. It seemed everyone was wearing team colours." |
| Sold out | Sold out |
| Some fans unable to get on a Paris-bound train were taking Eurostar Brussels services and changing at Lille to make their way on local services to the French capital. | Some fans unable to get on a Paris-bound train were taking Eurostar Brussels services and changing at Lille to make their way on local services to the French capital. |
| At Folkestone in Kent, Eurotunnel officials were coping with numbers of travellers on their cross-Channel shuttle trains that were 40% greater than the same weekend last year. | At Folkestone in Kent, Eurotunnel officials were coping with numbers of travellers on their cross-Channel shuttle trains that were 40% greater than the same weekend last year. |
| A company spokesman said: "From 11am today until the start of the match there are no tickets left and it will also be very busy on the return journey on Sunday." | A company spokesman said: "From 11am today until the start of the match there are no tickets left and it will also be very busy on the return journey on Sunday." |
| Rugby: All you need to know | Rugby: All you need to know |
| To avoid public transport problems, Gavin MacDonald, global head of mergers and acquisitions for investment bank Morgan Stanley, hired a luxury 10-seat plane for himself and corporate clients. | To avoid public transport problems, Gavin MacDonald, global head of mergers and acquisitions for investment bank Morgan Stanley, hired a luxury 10-seat plane for himself and corporate clients. |
| In Paris, Jason Patrick, 24, a Springbok fan living in London, said he arrived in the French capital too late to secure a hotel room but did manage to find a spare bed at a friend's place in anticipation of a South Africa victory party. | In Paris, Jason Patrick, 24, a Springbok fan living in London, said he arrived in the French capital too late to secure a hotel room but did manage to find a spare bed at a friend's place in anticipation of a South Africa victory party. |
| The Queen has sent a written message of good luck to the England team, which her daughter Anne will deliver, while both Prince William and Prince Harry will attend the match. | |
| Are you heading to Paris for the final? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you heading to Paris for the final? Send us your experiences using the form below. |