Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of this year’s international Rugby World Cup and has created a very special Defender worthy of custodianship of rugby’s most instantly recognisable icon – the Webb Ellis Cup.

The specially-modified 110 Defender Station Wagon was developed and built by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division at its headquarters at Oxford Road HQ in Ryton, UK. The Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender has been designed to safely and securely display the Webb Ellis Cup, while it travels across the UK and Ireland during the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

The focal point of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender is the bespoke Trophy cabinet to the rear of the vehicle. A one-of-a-kind Rugby World Cup 2015 Defender App has been developed specifically for the purpose of controlling the high-specification technology within the Trophy cabinet, making sure that conditions are just right.

Lighting, temperature, the locking mechanism that secures the Webb Ellis Cup and the 40-inch flat-screen Toshiba television are all controlled through the App on a 10” Toshiba Windows Tablet which acts as the interface. The Trophy cabinet is also protected with toughened security glazing.

The climate control system is crucial to ensuring the Trophy is always the star and visible to fans throughout the tour. It maintains a constant temperature within the cabinet to eliminate fogging and is aided by anti-glare security glass. To add a touch of theatre, three different lighting modes have been incorporated whilst the flat-screen TV will play a host of memorable moments from Rugby’s illustrious history.

The passenger interior is based on the Defender Autobiography edition and offers a high level of personalised design touches. Black Windsor Leather seats have been embellished with gold contrast stitching and Rugby World Cup 2015 blue piping whilst the contrast stitch extends to the dashboard and doors. The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour logo takes prominent position being embroidered onto the front headrests.

Powered by Land Rover’s proven 2.2-litre diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission, this iconic all-terrain vehicle also features a front winch, aluminium sump guard, side and rear steps, modified raised air intake and expedition rack. These are complimented by striking Rugby World Cup 2015 graphics to the exterior. Vehicle spot lights illuminate the immediate surroundings like a floodlit pitch while the broader 16” off-road tyres give the Defender a purposeful and self-assured stance.