If you are going to jump on the heaving rugby World Cup bandwagon, this is a pretty stylish way of doing it.

Warren Reid, Simon Holdsworth and Richard Sharp - partners at south-west firm Thring Townsend - got their mitts on the William Webb Ellis Trophy at the end of last year courtesy of Black & Blues, the business club set up by the firm with Bath Rugby.

The lads couldn't have triumphed in Australia without them, Obiter is sure.

England coach Andy Robinson was guest of honour at the event, hosted by the BBC's John Inverdale, and he was accompanied by the Bath players from the England squad: Iain Balshaw, Mike Catt, Danny Grewcock and Mike Tindall.

The trophy, we're told, was brought to Bath especially for the occasion in an armoured car and protected by two minders.

The event also raised 22,000 for the Joshua Foundation, which provides holidays and experiences for children with terminal cancer, through the auction of a rugby ball signed by Jonny Wilkinson and an England shirt signed by 24 members of the World Cup squad.