Land Rover has geared up a bespoke, one-off Defender 110 which will be used to take the trophy for the impending Women's Rugby World Cup on a tour of the host nation.
Due to be held in England from late August until the end of September, the special trophy-carrying Defender was unveiled at London's Battersea Power Station fully 100 days before the start of the tournament.
What has Land Rover done to the 110 to make it ready for carrying the cup?
It was built in Coventry and is a plug-in hybrid model with extended rear glazing and bespoke interior lighting, both of which are designed to give crowds the best possible view of the trophy while it tours the country. It also has a two-tone, matte-and-gloss black paintjob with gold highlights on the alloy wheels, radiator grille and 'Defender' bonnet script.
Following its reveal, the Land Rover and the World Cup will then head off to visit all eight venues of the tournament - starting in London from 14-16 May, and then moving through stadia at Brighton, Exeter, Bristol, Northampton, Manchester and York (spending a couple of days at each location) before concluding the tour on 4-6 June in Sunderland. During that time, it will visit cathedrals, cross the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, and make an appearance at Silverstone for the British round of the MotoGP championship on 23-25 May.
Why is Land Rover particularly associated with the Women's Rugby World Cup?
The company says the Defender has a decades-long association with rugby, while the model is a principal partner of the 2025 event in its home country. It was a worldwide partner, too, of the 2023 Rugby World Cup held in France. Following on from the trophy-tour vehicle, Land Rover will also start the next phase of its Defender Trailblazers initiative, which looks to recognise inspirational individuals in the sport - or, in the company's own words, 'those who embrace the impossible to change the face of rugby, from overcoming disability to tackling discrimination'.
What do some of the people involved say about the trophy-tour vehicle?
Mark Cameron, the managing director of the Defender line, said: “We are very proud to demonstrate our support of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 with this custom-built Defender 110.
“Our vehicles have always stood for capability and durability; and creating an individual commission for the trophy was a mission we were very pleased to undertake.”
And Sarah Massey, the managing director of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, added: “Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 promises to be an unforgettable tournament for the sport, which is only enhanced by the Defender partnership and our shared value of driving the visibility and awareness of the tournament.
“The bespoke Defender 110 acts as the perfect vehicle for the newly created trophy, and its appearances across the UK will ignite excitement and intrigue for new and existing fans.”