LONDON, UK – Drive Productions, the London-based global brand experience agency, teamed up with World Rugby and Essentially to deliver the spectacular World Rugby Awards on Sunday 1 November.
As well as designing and producing the event, which took place at Battersea Evolution, the night after the Rugby World Cup 2015 Final, the Drive creative team were responsible for the impressive lighting design and install, and innovative stage design. The stage and set was built to reflect the shape of the new World Rugby Awards brand icon and was fully projection mapped to deliver the evenings awards.
A spectacular two-minute projection mapping installation opened the ceremony, created in the Drive visual effects studio and included 2D and 3D animations with a choreographed lighting show. The technological, bold and slick aesthetic was continued throughout the evening with all visual stings, walk-up content and key rugby moments from 2015 projected onto the 3 dimensional set, designed to dazzle and excite the 1500 attendees from the world of sport and celebrity, including the newly crowned Rugby World Cup 2015 Champions New Zealand and giants and luminaries of the game in attendance.
Rugby World Cup winning captain Ritchie McCaw delivered the Webb Ellis Cup to stage, accompanied by the official Rugby World Cup song, World in Union, sung by Laura Wright. Awards were presented during the course of the night to players whom had achieved greatness throughout the year, with an emphasis on achievements during Rugby World Cup 2015.
Stars of the women’s game were also recognised, with Kendra Cocksedge winning World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year and Portia Woodman winning World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year.
New Zealand were named the World Rugby Team of the Year after becoming the first nation to successfully defend their Rugby World Cup title.
Dan Carter had a fairtytale ending to his glittering test career as the New Zealand fly-half was named World Rugby Player of the Year in association with MasterCard, to cap his man of the match display in the Rugby World Cup 2015 Final.
“Drive Productions were delighted to be asked to produce the World Rugby Awards. We succeeded in our mission to create a slick and high impact ceremony that showcased our impressive technology and event production skills in tandem. The evening paid tribute to what was an incredibly exciting Rugby World Cup.” comments CEO Ben Fender.
