Bringing back Bill

Horan honored as champs
bask in World Cup glory

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Posted: Tuesday November 09, 1999 08:26 AM

Aussie captain John Eales (center) shows off the William Webb Ellis Trophy. AP

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Less than 48 hours after their World Cup final win over France, Australia's rugby union team arrived home to the chants of "Waltzing Matilda" at Sydney airport on Monday night.

The most popular passenger on Qantas Flight 2 from London was "Bill" -- the William Webb Ellis Trophy emblematic of the World Cup title that Australia also won in 1991.

About 700 fans were at the airport to welcome back captain John Eales and the rest of the Australian side that beat France 35-12 Saturday.

Eales said he was elated by the welcoming party.

"It was excellent to see so many people," said Eales. "We knew we had a lot of support in Australia but it's great to have that realization."

The second rower said the mood on the plane from London had been mostly quiet with many players taking the opportunity to catch up on sleep following the after-match celebrations in Cardiff.

But Eales said the trophy was filled with champagne and every passenger on the flight drank from the gold cup.

 

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