With only a year to go until England hosts the Rugby World Cup 2015, Prince Harry has been appointed honorary president of England Rugby 2015 – the organising committee delivering the tournament.

A keen rugby fan, and vice patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Prince Harry will play an important role in welcoming the 20 qualifying nations to Rugby World Cup 2015.

The prince is involved in a number of sporting initiatives and was instrumental in launching the Invictus Games for injured soldiers which took place earlier this month.

The promotional campaign for world rugby’s premier tournament is about to kick into overdrive, with fans due to find out which tickets they have successfully applied for in October 2014. Meanwhile, planning is underway for a 100 day trophy tour, taking the Webb Ellis Cup to England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales from June 10 to September 18. 2015.

"We still have a year of hard work ahead of us but with the team bases announced, the venues and city plans being finalised, excellent support from our stakeholders and tickets on sale we are able to move forward with confidence,” England Rugby 2015 CEO, Debbie Jevans.

“The prince is a great rugby fan and recently inspired us all with the Invictus Games. We have no doubt that he will help us achieve our aim of staging a tournament that reaches out to new and existing rugby fans.”