England rugby coach Stuart Lancaster has secured Pennyhill Park "as the host nation's main training base" ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, according to the PA. Lancaster has "opted to keep England at their accustomed Bagshot
headquarters for as long as possible during the pool stages" of the '15
tournament. Rugby World Cup organizers have "confirmed 41 training bases will be used throughout the tournament in September and October next year." Lancaster: "It's great to have Pennyhill Park as our training base. It's a place we are used to -- the facilities are first-class, especially with the new training center." Wales is "perhaps the next biggest winners in the team base allocation," with half of its Pool A preparations "taking place at their usual home, the Vale Resort near Cardiff." Tournament organizer England Rugby 2015 vetted "more than 100 applications
from complexes to become team-base venues." The final list of 41 centers, "including pitches, state-of-the-art gyms,
swimming pools and hotels, allow teams the flexibility to be based close to
each fixture" (PA, 8/26).
The BBC reported Scotland "will set up camp at Hartpury College, Gloucester, Leeds Metropolitan
University and University of Leeds then Newcastle Royal Grammar School." Scotland starts its campaign at Kingsholm, Gloucester, against Japan (BBC, 8/26).
