Stamps mark England rugby win

Two of the stamps can be used on mail destined Down Under

Royal Mail has launched a set of stamps to mark England's rugby World Cup win.

The four stamps, which went on sale on Friday, feature scenes from England's 20-17 final win over world champions Australia in Sydney on 22 November.

Two of the stamps are first class and the others are 68p, which is the price to send a 20g letter to Australia.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said they had resisted putting Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked the winning points, on a stamp because it had been a team achievement.

A spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "The rule is that living people cannot appear on the stamps unless they are part of a team or the Royal Family.

"But we do try to avoid showing faces because it's England's rugby squad who won the match and not any individuals."

Passion

She said the Royal Mail updated its rules a year ago so that living people who were not part of the Royal Family were allowed if they were part of a team or a generic image.

Instead, the stamps depict the trophy, the squad huddled before the match, the backs of the victorious players and the cheering crowds.

They can only be purchased as a commemorative miniature sheet, price £1.92, bordered by the Cross of St George with the Rose of England in the right hand corner. Each stamp bears the 20 -17 score.

Paul Vaughan, Commercial Director of the Rugby Football Union said: "We are really delighted that Royal Mail will be marking the England team's historic victory with a set of stamps that fully capture the excitement, passion and elation of 22 November."

Commemorative stamps have been issued by the Royal Mail to celebrate special events since 1964.