RUGBY fans up and down the country dream of seeing their side lift the Aviva Premiership trophy at a packed Twickenham in May, but one Worcester Warriors supporter could be about to go one step better.
Stuart Brooks is in the running to carry out the cup at the grand finale of the domestic season at the home of rugby after seeing off the challenge of nine other burly Warriors fans.
The 27-year-old from Droitwich won the Trophy Lift-Off challenge to hoist the heavy, 15kg prize in the air for the longest time possible at Sixways Stadium ahead of last weekend’s 29-23 win over London Wasps.
For clocking an impressive time of one minute 35 seconds, James earned two tickets to see the Aviva Premiership final on May 25, where he will compete with winners from every other top-flight club for the honour of carrying the trophy pitch side.
“It looks a lot easier than it actually is,” he said.
Brooks added: “But I got lucky because I turned up a tiny bit late so I saw what times the other nine guys had already done so I knew what I had to beat.
“I just did enough and I was pleased to win but I definitely feel like I have more in the tank for the final.
“You’ve got to be in it to win it and I like to train anyway so I will be working hard to improve my strength ahead of the big day.”
The Aviva Premiership trophy is currently touring all 12 clubs where a potential champion will be anointed for the grand showdown at Twickenham.
One of Brooks’ rivals for the Trophy Lift-Off has already been unveiled, with Gloucester’s Ian Niblett representing the West Country outfit after he managed a time of one minute 23 seconds at Kingsholm.
Brooks admits he is considering upping his current training regime in a bid to bring home the trophy at the world’s biggest club rugby final.
“I’m a lifelong Warriors fan,” he added.
“I have always come down to support and although we are unlikely to be in the Aviva Premiership Grand Final I hope Worcester will have some representation with me there.
“If I keep working hard then hopefully I will have enough to win the whole thing, that would be fantastic."
- To win a chance to lift the trophy at an Aviva Premiership Rugby match near you go to: premiershiprugby.com/final/trophytour
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