England star and airline looking for World Cup flag bearers

England rugby star Ben Foden has waved his support behind a competition being held in east London to find seven official flag bearers for the Rugby World Cup later this year.

International airline and Official Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 Emirates will be hiding a flag somewhere in east London this Saturday (August 1).

Clues to the location of the flag will be posted on Emirates’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to help youngsters aged between 14 to 16 track it down between 9am and 9pm.

For those who find it, they will be entered in a draw with a chance of leading out a team in one of the matches played at the Olympic Stadium during the tournament this autumn.

They will then be entered in a grand draw alongside others from across the country for the chance to be a flag bearer for the final at Twickenham on October 31.

To enter, all you have to do is find the flag and post a selfie of yourself with it to one of Emirates’ social media pages with the hashtag #emiratesflag.

With east London not exactly considered one of rugby union’s heartlands, Foden is hoping the competition will start to build an interest in the tournament and help unearth new talent.

“The story that Emirates are trying to put across is that rugby is coming home, back to England,” said Foden. “It’s trying to inspire the next generation of Jonny Wilkinsons, Owen Farrells, Chris Robshaws to take up alms and support the England team in any way they can.

“What an opportunity to be a flag bearer at the Olympic Stadium of all places. What a great opportunity for kids to get involved and see a great stadium and watch fantastic players do amazing things and get involved that way.

“They can experience what it’s like for us as players to run out there at a World Cup and the excitement about being involved at the highest stage rugby has to offer.

“Hopefully it will inspire these guys to join their local rugby club if they are not there already and progress up the ranks and become the next superstars in the game.”

Ben Foden is an Emirates ambassador for Rugby, is encouraging young fans to find the flag hidden in East London on the 1st of August to win the chance to lead a team out at Rugby World Cup 2015. Visit Emirates Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to follow the #EmiratesFlag.