Despite the inevitability of England’s crushing defeat of Italy, no one is calling for the last days of Rome any time soon

While the introduction of relegation could improve the Six Nations, the omission of a trip to Rome would be the greatest loss on the rugby calendar

For fans, Rome is the perfect trip out of all the Six Nations away destinations (Getty)

“Hi, my name is Ben and I’m 13 and I want to play for England when I’m older. What advice do you have to make that happen?”

That was the question posed by a fan the night before England took on Italy in Rome on Sunday – to Eddie Jones. Ben, who incidentally dwarfed the majority of the audience in front of whom he posed the question, was subsequently told about working hard, setting goals and how it helps to be “built like a brick s***house”.

A relaxed Jones – a contrast of the prickly one so often rolled out in front of the media – was flanked by assistant coaches Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard at an event put on for the travelling England fans on the eve of the 46-15 deconstruction of the Six Nations whipping boys. Ben had his picture taken with the coaches in what is sure to be a constant motivation of what he must do to achieve his dream.

Ben’s was not the only question; the coaches were at the event for nearly an hour addressing questions from the audience about 2017’s ‘ruckgate’, how he plans to win the 2019 World Cup and which member of the 2003 side would he most like to add to his current crop. Jason Robinson was the answer, by the way.

Considering even journalists don’t get to probe the coaches that close to a game, the chance for a fan to do so shows the bond between the team and those who follow it is still just as important to England as ever, and why Rome is such a special trip.

The event, put on by England Rugby Travel, is just a taster of what fans can expect in Japan next year. Jones stressed the importance of how the tickets for 2 November, the World Cup final, should be the first booked. Access Pass tickets, giving fans an early chance to secure their tickets to follow England around Japan, are available from the middle of March, after all.

For fans, Rome is the perfect trip out of all the Six Nations away destinations. Things are guaranteed there. The weather provides the first bit of sun seen by the average Brit for around four months, it is the home of the world’s finest pizza and pasta dishes and there is an abundance of cultural activities from the Colosseum to the Sistine Chapel. Oh, and after all of that you can watch England pummel Italy by seven tries to two at the Stadio Olimpico, something you don’t need to make a wish for at the Trevi Fountain beforehand.

Unsurprisingly, then, the introduction of relegation and promotion to the Six Nations is not a popular one if Rome was one day replaced by Tbilisi if Georgia took a step up in Italy’s stead. “Watching England in Rome is not just about the rugby, it’s a full weekend in a capital city draping in history which shaped the rest of Europe,” one England fan commented. “Regardless of the standard of rugby, to not have this on the Six Nations calendar would be a great loss to the fan experience, and without the fans, who are you playing for?”

England’s travelling fans make the most of their visit to Rome (Getty)

That is recognised by England Rugby Travel, whose commitment to the supporters is unrivalled in providing team access, organisation and the best way of immersing yourself with fellow travellers to give the sense of togetherness that unites players and fans. Tickets are even delivered England legends Phil Vickery and Ugo Monye on the morning of the game. These added perks are what make these trips truly memorable.

Jones stressed at the culmination of his Q&A how much it meant to himself and his players to see the commitment of so many following the team on foreign ground and as he builds towards the World Cup in 2019, he can rest assure that trips such as these to Rome will ensure the supporters are doing exactly the same.

Sunday’s Italian job will live long in the memory of those who travelled and with continued experiences like this, it’s easy to see why no one is yearning for the last days of Rome just yet.

England Rugby Travel have launched their Priority Access Pass for the Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019. Priority Access Passes allow fans to get to the front of the queue for packages including hotel and travel options, official match tickets and events with rugby legends. For more information follow the link: http://www.englandrugbytravel.com/rwc2019