The Bishop of Exeter talks about hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony for the French and Italian teams, video Exeter Diocese, Alan Quick
00:00So first of all, can you tell me your name, your designation and how you feel about the ceremony that we've just been part of in the cathedral today?
00:10Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter. Great to see a packed cathedral welcoming the Italian and French rugby teams to Exeter.
00:20It's been chosen as one of the eight cities to host the Women's World Cup Rugby this year.
00:27And it's already looking like it's going to be bigger and better than it's ever been before. Already 375,000 tickets sold.
00:35So this is a massive event and great to see Exeter sponsoring the promotion of women's sport and women's rugby in particular.
00:43We know that England is a great leader in this regard, but wonderful to see it being amplified and expanded.
00:49And how good that the cathedral and the diocese are right at the centre of these celebrations and supporting Exeter and the profile of Devon more widely.
01:00There's so much about sports like rugby that also reminds us of the best, I guess, Christian faith and some of the values that we hold as Christians.
01:09What for you in terms of being in the ceremony, listening to the, watching the video that we saw earlier,
01:14really stood out as a moment of kind of a chance to witness that cloud of, you know, we were the cloud of witnesses to them coming into the cathedral today, weren't we?
01:21I think just watching the French and the Italian teams and that, forgive the phrase bonhomie between them, but also that sense of mutual support.
01:30I mean, there's something about sport that at its best can bring out that way of being together that's so mutually supportive,
01:37mutually encouraging and enabling the flourishing of one another, not just physically, but relationally, psychologically and socially.
01:46So that was one of the points that really stood out for me and is a message for all of us in terms of building up the fabric of our social life as communities.
01:55And are you a rugby fan yourself? And if so, which matches or teams are you particularly looking forward to watching in the World Cup?
02:02Well, I'm not especially a rugby fan, but any sport that's undertaken at this level with this degree of skill is something that fascinates me.
02:10So naturally, I'm going to be watching out for England, who are a great, one of the great favourites.
02:15But I'm also conscious that New Zealand are bringing a very strong team, as are Canada.
02:20So along with the French and the Italians here, those will be teams that I'm watching out for and games that I'd love to see whether, if not live, then on TV.
02:29And I understand you've got family members who are rugby fans have played. Will they be watching along with you?
02:34Absolutely. I've got three daughters, one of whom's just been playing for the Army over in Gibraltar.
02:39Came back with a few injuries from the AstroTurf, but fortunately the turf here is a little more giving.
02:45So, yep, they'll be glued to the screens as we will.
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