Ventnor and Island Free School rugby players are set to take part in a very special moment in the game's history this weekend.

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the game, 200 balls are being sent out around the world to help raise awareness of the game and this great anniversary.

Ventnor is the only town on the Isle of Wight to have been selected and at noon tomorrow on Ventnor seafront, players from both Ventnor RFC and the school will ceremonially pass the ball along the beach to mark the bicentenary.

Ventnor Town Council is supporting the event and said on its website: "The balls will be sent out by Gilbert who are sponsoring the event, and obviously a name synonymous with the easily recognisable ball logo seen around the world in all competitions.

Read more: 

"Gilbert balls, were originally made in the town of Rugby and supplied the ball to the famous Rugby School when William Webb Ellis originally ran with the ball and the game as we know it was born."

The town council points out the headmaster of Rugby School at the time, Dr Thomas Arnold, was a Ventnor resident who was born in Cowes.