When the Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 7 Australians across the country will enter a six-week long Rugby frenzy and at least one Sydney Anglican Church is taking notice.

Christ Church, St Ives is holding their annual church weekend away at Stanwell Tops on the weekend of Sunday, October 14. This happens to be the morning that the Wallabies are expected to take on the All Blacks in the second World Cup semi-final.

Assistant minister Robin Kinstead did not want the early morning game to discourage people from attending the weekend away. He thought it would be fun to incorporate the game into the weekend's program and satisfy the many Rugby fans who attend Christ Church.

"We are showing the event on the big screen at our house party at 5am because we have such keen fans here. We didn't want it to be a deal breaker for people attending the weekend away," Robin says.

For those choosing to rise early and watch the game there will be bacon sandwiches and smouldering hot coffee on offer to encourage fellowship at the social event.

"We want to make it a fun time together. It is a way of being gracious, loving others and meeting their needs " even if we might call them desires," Robin laughs.

"It doesn't change the fact that we are gathered together over the weekend to get into the scriptures."

Excitement builds among French Christians
Toulouse is the rugby capital of France.

"Everyone loves rugby here, not just men," says former Sydneysider Owen Chadwick who lives in the city.

He is experiencing first-hand the locals' excitement as they gear up to host their first ever Rugby World Cup, and says church friends are scrambling to buy tickets to the matches there. Four group games will be played in Toulouse; the highlight for locals will be their beloved "les bleus' taking on Namibia on September 16.

"Traditionally the south-west of France is a rugby stronghold," Owen explains.

"People love it and schoolkids play it. It is seen to be a sport which affirms particular values which are sought after. It is seen quite differently from football [soccer]. Supporters are viewed as being non-violent and there is no hooliganism associated with the sport."

Toulouse is also the leading university town outside Paris, home to three universities and about 140,000 students. It is the strategic importance of student ministry that has brought the CMS missionary to France's fourth-largest city.

Owen's long-term aim is to train leaders for the church in France, and with this in mind, he coordinates one-or two-year internships for students interested in pursuing Christian ministry.

After a visit to Toulouse last September for student orientation week, the Rev John Bales, General Secretary of CMS-NSW, labelled it as the toughest missionfield he had ever seen. French students, Mr Bales said, seemed totally uninterested in discussing Christianity.

This month, the beginning of the university year coincides with the Rugby World Cup. With thousands of rugby tourists " mainly New Zealanders " flocking to the beautiful 15th-century "pink city', the dynamic is sure to be different. Can rugby be a hook to spark the students' interest in Jesus Christ?

Owen believes so. "During the month of September we are holding a two-week outreach program to coincide with O week, when students arrive," he says.

For four months Owen and 20 local pastors have also been working together to promote three evening meetings at a well-known bar in Toulouse featuring Christian rugby stars giving their testimonies.

"It is a place for 100 people to come together - Christians inviting their friends," he said. "We have lined up South African and New Zealand players to speak."

Almost a world away in Paris' suburbs, Xavier and Libby Lukins minister at an Evangelical Free church, and see the World Cup as a way of building on relationships with neighbours.

Both their sons play rugby, and the sport's growing popularity is sure to bring the Lukinses in contact with new friends.

"We are happy to take our children to a rugby match as the ambiance is friendly, which can not always be said for the big soccer matches. Many parents are choosing rugby as an after school activity as it promotes a good team spirit," Libby says.

"Please pray for our witness to those we come in contact with."

More heavenly players

Michael Jones

Country: New Zealand
RWC: 1987, 1991
Caps: 56
Tries: 13

Nicknamed "Iceman' for his cool confidence under pressure, he is one of the genuine legends of world rugby " named as one of the greatest players of all time by The Times. Yet his career was cut short by his refusal to play on Sundays. Although he was selected for the 1987 and 1991 All Black World Cup squads, he was omitted from the 1995 squad because his refusal to play on Sunday would have meant him being unavailable for the quarter-final and semi-final games.

Classic Quote:
Once asked how a Christian man can hit so hard in tackles, he quoted the biblical truth, "It is better to give than receive'.

Nick Farr-Jones

Country: Australia
RWC: 1987, 1991
Caps: 63
Tries: 9

In 1991, he guided Australia to victory in the RWC and is one of only 7 Wallabies to be inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

Classic Quote:
Asked by the BBC at the 2003 RWC how he felt when he lifted the Webb Ellis trophy, Farr-Jones put all the hype into perspective: "...there was also a sense of melancholy after working your butt off and realising that this had been the focus of your life and it doesn't get better than that. There's a sense of "Is that all?' and "
Is this as good as it gets?'. It leaves you in a vacuum."

Francois Pienaar

Country: South Africa
RWC: 1995
Caps: 29
Tries: 3

Francois Pienaar was centre stage for two of the most enduring images of the modern rugby era. When he received the Webb Ellis Trophy from President Nelson Mandela, it was seen as a triumph for an entire "rainbow' nation unified across racial divides. His diplomatic words made Pienaar a hero for all South Africans. As Nelson Mandela later wrote: "Francois brought the nation together". But Christians may also remember another image from that final: Pienaar sinking humbly to his knees before God in prayer at the blessing the event had brought his nation, and leading his team-mates to do likewise.

Va’aiga Tuigamala

Country: Samoa / New Zealand
RWC: 1999 (Samoa)
Caps: 19 (NZ), 14 (Samoa)
Tries: 5 (NZ), 2 (Samoa)

"Inga the Winger' is equally known to league fans as rugby fans. He was a star at league club Wigan and also played international rugby league for Samoa, including the 1995 World Cup. But he is also known for his Christian faith, and in particular for the influence he had with future England rugby union captain Jason Robinson, a team-mate at Wigan [see below].