England on course for victory in opening Rugby World Cup match - according to zoo’s meerkats

The Rugby World Cup kicks off in just two days time and it seems like everyone wants a piece of the action - even a group of mischievous meerkats!
The meerkats at Drayton Manor zoo in Staffordshire have been busy making their predictions for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.The meerkats at Drayton Manor zoo in Staffordshire have been busy making their predictions for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.
The meerkats at Drayton Manor zoo in Staffordshire have been busy making their predictions for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.

The playful mob at Drayton Manor zoo have been busy predicting the outcome of various games during the tournament.

And it’s good news for England with the popular animals forecasting a victory for the host nations in the opening match against Fiji on Friday night.

The furriest residents at the Staffordshire zoo have been busy inspecting the country’s flags for each head-to-head game and choosing which they think represents the winning team by scampering onto the relevant rock. When they’re unable to choose an out and out winner, they’ve clambered onto the middle ground in between the rocks, indicating a draw.

Joyce Roberts, Zoo Manager at Drayton Manor said, “Our meerkats are really smart and always seem to be up to something! Jasmine our oldest meerkat is the most inquisitive and loves playing new games, we put two rocks for her to choose between representing England and Fiji and there was no hesitation in her decision!

“However, despite Jasmine’s guesses, it’s Cleo the self-appointed female head of the mob, who has been leading the predictions. She’s taken a real shine to one of the rocks and it seems her predictions are firmly in England’s favour!”

The group’s prediction for the first game of the competition, England vs Fiji on Friday 18th September, is a win for the hosts England, however things take a turn for England’s second game as youngster Pip, who just turned one in May, confidently predicts a win for Wales!

We’ll have to wait and see if they’re right.

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