FORMER England rugby union star Mark Cueto was at Broughton Hall today as part of the Webb Ellis Cup's 100-day tour across the UK and Ireland to mark the countdown to Rugby World Cup 2015.

Mark, who played nine years for England and was capped 55 times, turned up at the Land Rover Experience on the Broughton Hall Estate and got behind the wheel of the Trophy Tour Defender, a custom-built Land Rover carrying the Webb Ellis Cup across the country in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup 2015, which starts at Twickenham on September 18.

Mark, a winger, played 14 seasons for Sale Sharks, and since retiring on May 16 he has served in an ambassador role for the club.

"Fourteen years of rugby has taken its toll," said Mark. "I hung up my boots in May and I'm in the process of a transition to real world."

Mark said he was pleased to make an appearance promoting Land Rover and its partnership with England and the Rugby World Cup.

"The build-up to the World Cup is of huge importance from the top end of the game to the grass roots level," said Mark. "For the UK to be hosting the World Cup is massive for the country and is really good for the development of the game.

"And if England do well, like when they won it in Australia in 2003, it has a massive impact on the sport.

Mark, who played in the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups, added: "I'm a little bit envious as it would have been great to play in a home World Cup. It will be a huge advantage for England to play in their back garden, but it's nice to be part of it in a different way."