RUGBY fever is set to hit Wiltshire on Saturday as England take on Australia in the world cup final.

But, while most people will have to content themselves with watching on TV, Devizes Rugby Club president Dan Gaiger and club members Les Dowse and Taffy O'Rourke will have ringside seats in Australia.

They have been at the Rugby World Cup for its duration and will be at the final to watch England take on hosts Australia.

Committee member Ray Taylor said he hopes England's success will encourage more people to take up the sport and support their local side.

"I hope more people will want to get involved in local rugby as a result of England's success in Australia," he said.

"Although we at Devizes are doing quite well, with pretty high numbers in the junior and senior sections, we still need increased membership.

"I hope England's performances so far, and hopefully a win in the final, will help with that."

Mr Taylor also has a particular interest in the final having worked with England's blind-side flanker Richard Hill during his days with the Dorset and Wiltshire Under-21 representative side.

He said: "Richard is a Salisbury lad and I knew him when I was team secretary for the Dorset/Wilts side. He was always a very good player but he certainly improved when he went to Saracens.

"It's amazing that he's come so far and could be involved in the World Cup final on Saturday."

In Chippenham, England rugby shirts have been flying off the shelves at Giles Sports in Emery Gate, with more than 60 selling in recent weeks, at £50 each.

"The players' shirts with collars are selling-out fast," said manager Mike Phillips, 22.

"And it's now got to the point where we can't get our hands on anymore, for love nor money.

"Children and adults have been piling in, buying rugby merchandise, and the balls are also selling like hotcakes. We actually stayed open later last Sunday, to cope with the demand and the other countries' shirts, like Australia have also been selling well, although not on the same scale as the England shirts."

Mr Phillips, a huge rugby fan himself, is hoping his bosses are going to let him open the store later on Saturday, so he and the other staff can get to see the match.

"We've all got our fingers crossed at the moment, that we're going to be able to see the game at the pub," he said.

"I think that Johnny Wilkinson will do us proud and score some of his special drop goals, making a score of 15-12 to us."

Robbie Spears, the chairman of the senior playing section at Chippenham Rugby Club, said interest in rugby is growing all the time, amongst north Wiltshire's youth.

"After England reached the 1991 Rugby World Cup final there was a large influx of kids to the club and that's how my kids got interested," he said. "The numbers here really swelled.

"I think it's too early now to say, but I think a lot of youngsters will be interested in taking up the sport especially if England win."

Exsports sports shop in the High Street, does not sell the official England strip, but does sell a replica kit with England emblazoned across the shirt and an English rose.

Assistant manager Sam Valentine, 26, said the £10 adult shirts are "going through the roof."

"I've never really watched rugby before that much, but I've watched all England's World Cup matches and I'm gutted I won't be able to watch the final on Saturday because I'm working," she said.

"But we will doing the next best thing and listening to the match on the radio."

In Chippenham there are a variety of venues to watch the match too, including the Four Seasons in the Market Place, which is opening its doors early at 9am to welcome in the fans.

"Last Sunday's match was popular and we're expecting even more this weekend for the final," said staff member Anna Drewitt, 21. "We have a large-screen television and there should be a fantastic atmosphere.

"I wasn't really a rugby fan before the World Cup but I've really got into it."