FAUX WO O D The Stylish look of wood with the durability of PVC
U NIVIEW 3 2 00 Superfine high-performance screen fabric
S U M ME R CO C KTAILS Be the life & soul of the party with these delicious summer recipes
PASTEL REVOLU T I ON Pale pastels are making a comeback
S KY E I S T H E LIMIT Make the most of your roof windows with new Skye roof blinds
AUGUST ‘15 | ISSUE 12
W e a r e E x h i b i t i n g at t h e
Showcase
4-6 October 2015 Ricoh Arena, Coventry 2
visit us at Stand 09
In The Views
4-5
In The Press
6-7
Pastel Revolution
8-9
Sunwood Faux Wood
10 - 11
Spruce up your Garden
12 - 13
10 BBQ tips
14 - 15
Uniview 3200 Superfine
16 - 17
Summer events Guide
18 - 19
Summer Living
20 - 21
Skye Roof Blinds
22 - 23
Summer Cocktails
24 - 25
Rugby World Cup Bracket
26 - 27
WELCOME LISBURN CITY AWARDS BEST BUSINESS GROWTH – WINNER! Recently announced as the winners of the Lisburn City Awards, our entry acknowledges our business growth within the last 3 years. This is a very positive story for Decora as we have demonstrated growth in several areas of our business and helped support Lisburn’s local economy. We were delighted to be recognised for this award, which is a great achievement for all at Decora.
NEW SITE OPENS! After the success of our Birmingham distribution centre, opened in late 2013, we have recently invested in another site to accommodate our growing business. April 2015 saw the opening of our latest warehousing and production facility in Lisburn. Spanning across 55,000 square feet, this new facility is dedicated to meeting the demand for increased business operations including the new faux wood product range.
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show's visitors. The mannequin-dressed shop window highlighted our passion for colour, whilst our venetian blinds dazzled with earthy and natural tones contrasting vibrant primary colours. All of these factors combined to create Decora's sucess at the R&T 2015.
WE GOT 2015 OFF TO A BUSY START WITH OUR ATTENDANCE AT THE R&T STUTTGART IN FEBRUARY. On display across our 99 square metre stand included some of our latest innovations and creative attractions. Timberlux Mode “splashed” out from oversized paint pots, Santa Fe Nevada Shutters and Sunwood Pure showcased latest faux wood innovations. We also previewed new Superfine Uniview 3200 screen, as well as Skye roof blinds. This was our first year attending the Stuttgart Show and as such, we were inundated with enquiries, it was a great place to meet some of our existing customers as well as to have the opportunity to meet new contacts. Our colourful booth proved to be a popular backdrop for “selfies” with the 5
The Fabric Box, Santa Fe Shutters, Sunwood and Timberlux have all received recognition for how their blinds can improve an interior. This press coverage encourages enquiries right through to our customers. To view our press coverage go to thefabricbox.co.uk or the Decora Facebook page. Check out our favourite examples here‌
"When it comes to fabric blinds this season, bold retro styling continues to be popular. Whether your interior is a tribute to the 50s, 60s or 70s, blinds are a great way of incorporating retro style"
Revival / Christie
"Santa Fe Navada Shutters are made from durable polyvinyl, guaranteed not to crack, peel or discolour. Perfect for humid areas" 6
SF Nevada / Bright White
"Provide shading and privacy with one of these beautifully designed, on-trend fittings"
Stark (w) Black Tapes
Stark (w) Pink Tapes
"These simple roller blinds are the perfect window dressing for a stylish, modern bathroom"
Toro / Bisque
Urban / Storm
" Attractive and practical, shutters can be made to fit almost any window, adding privacy and insulation" 7
The word on the street predicts pastels to be the interior buzz trend this summer. Elle Décor and House Beautiful have forecasted that this once 80’s trend is here to make impact. With Pantone noting a definite move towards the cooler and softer side of the colour spectrum, “Remembrances of retro delights, folkloric and floral art, and the magical worlds of tropical landscapes restore a sense of well-being as we head into warmer months.” Back in the 80’s spring colours which were usually only seen once a year became popular in home decor, fashion and make-up. These muted colours were extremely popular in interior design, and were also a favourite fashion trend within the ‘preppy crowd’, think Miami Vice jackets and cardigans thrown jauntily over the shoulders.
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As we emerge out of dark winter days, we naturally gravitate towards refreshing tones, light, bright and breezy colours which uplift our senses and welcome summer into our lives, pastel tones certainly allow us to take hold of this mood. The soothing shades of soft pastels can have a big impact on a design scheme in a subtle, understated way, creating a space where there is nothing fighting for attention. The evolution of pastels has seen a shift from a sugar sweet feel to a more sophisticated palette with a fun approach, featuring heavy greys and primary shades as contrasts. Colour blocking is key and using the trend on all surfaces, walls, flooring, furniture and accessories really funks up the fun.
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FA U X WOOD
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NEW ADDITION TO THE SUNWOOD COLLECTION Sunwood Faux Wood 35mm and 50mm offer two colour ways; True, a pristine bright white and Mirage, a warm cream. Both colours are available in two finishes, a flat contemporary finish which portrays the look of a painted wood slat or an embossed finish, emulating a sophisticated wood grain effect, allowing consumers to choose to complement their chosen décor.
Sunwood cone tassels complete the blind further harmonising Faux Wood under the Sunwood brand. Customers can choose to upgrade the tassel finish with 8 additional tassels enabling a unique look.
Manufactured to the same high quality standards as Sunwood blinds, Faux Wood can be produced with ladder cord or with tapes; 25mm for 35mm slats and 38mm for 50mm Slats. A wide choice of 18 tape colours can be chosen creating simplistic coordination or contrast for a bold statement blind.
• High Quality blinds – sourced from reputable supply line using quality PVC.
Essential for any Sunwood addition is the quality and finish of the blind. The PVC used has been sourced from a premium supply line, with a reputation for quality. Inherent with the PVC composition of the blinds is the hard wearing properties, and high resistance to moisture.
Sunwood Faux Wood venetians are available as a made to measure and a wholesale product.
•
Ideal for bathrooms, kitchens and areas of high moisture content.
•
Available in most popular selling colours: True and Mirage.
•
2 finishes – Flat and Embossed.
•
35mm and 50mm slat.
•
18 tape colours.
•
Made to measure and wholesale blinds.
An elegant contoured valance compliments the slat with a flat or embossed effect for the perfect finish.
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IT'S NOT JUST THE HOUSE WHICH COULD DO WITH A SPRING CLEAN AND A DECLUTTER. IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A GARDEN OR PATIO AREA, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS YOU CAN MAKE IT LOOK MORE APPEALING. Don't be put off by the lack of British summer. If you do the legwork now, it means you can enjoy spending time in the garden when the sun does make an appearance.
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1. CLEANING First thing's first, make sure you can get your furniture as clean as possible leaving a good base for any up cycling you want to do.
rinse them down with hot soapy water and a brush and allow to dry. Once dry, brush with teak oil to protect the wood.
PLASTIC
After a good wash down with soapy water, remove any rust with some wire wool, rinse again and dry thoroughly with a cloth.
WOOD
Again, after a good clean and sand down, use a wood paint or stain to refresh the look of your chairs and help preserve the wood.
METAL
Those white or green plastic chairs make a showing at least once a year, but when left outside can get pretty grubby. If you have, or can borrow a pressure washer, you’re on to a winner. Otherwise try any of these homemade cleaners using a soft brush, an old rag, a clean cloth and some elbow grease. To bring back a bit of shine and colour, try rubbing Vaseline or cooking oil all over the chair and rubbing with a clean cloth until no residue remains, which could ruin clothes. WOOD
If your wooden chairs and table are looking a bit tatty,
2. PAINTING Cleaning might not be enough on its own to spruce up your furniture for the family barbecue, or you might just like a change of look in your garden. In that case, painting is a quick and inexpensive alternative.
METAL
Channel your inner graffiti artist and use weatherproof spray paint to cover your rusty garden chair after it's been cleaned and smoothed with wire wool. Gloss also works well on metal.
PLASTIC
After giving your chairs a good clean, give them a quick rub down with fine sand paper before using paint to re-cover them. Toro / Bisque
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TRY DRY RUBS Dry meat rubs to add that extra punch to your BBQ staples, without the grease. Try grinding together cumin seeds, coriander seeds, garam masala and chilli powder before rubbing it all over the meat. FISH Fish and seafood were made for the barbecue and can make a nice change from meat. Packed with healthy fats and delicate flavours, try mackerel, salmon, tuna and sardines but don’t be afraid to give other varieties a go too! FANCY A TIPPLE? There’s nothing quite like a glass of something cold to wash down all that good grub, and for most of us that means something alcoholic. Try alternating between nonalcoholic drinks and the stronger stuff or make up a batch of iced tea or lemonade. CHOOSE LEAN CUTS Exchanging fatty cuts of meat for leaner varieties is an easy way to reduce your intake of saturated fat. Try pork loin, sirloin steak and chicken or turkey breast (skin removed and any excess fat trimmed) as healthier alternatives. SAUSAGES A BBQ just wouldn’t be a BBQ without the humble but oh-so-satisfying sausage, but as most of us know, they’re not the healthiest part of a meal. When you go shopping, hunt down the best banger you can, with high percentage of meat content, low in fat and usually fresh rather than frozen. 14
DRESSINGS & SAUCES Ready-made dressings and sauces are packed full of salt and sugar. Instead, make your own dressings and sauces at home to accompany your BBQ bites, such as a spiced mango salsa or smashed avocado dip. FIND YOUR INNER VEGGIE Think of the Mediterranean on this occasion with slices or skewers of aubergine, courgette, red pepper and tomato. Instead of burgers, try a large Portobello mushroom or savour the fresh taste of British asparagus. FRUITY FUN No meal is truly complete without dessert and a barbecue should be no exception. Grilled pineapple works especially well and can make a refreshing and light after-dinner snack. Fruit kebabs are also great fun for the family. SIDES & SALADS Side dishes are ideal for adding a whole host of moreish flavours to an alfresco feast. For example, instead of the mayo-heavy coleslaw, opt for this delicious sweetcorn relish or maybe some harissa-spiced couscous. MAKE YOUR OWN MARINADES Try combining olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh rosemary for beef, or thyme, lemon juice and olive oil for fragrant chicken – both full of flavour and easy to put together.
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ARCHITECTURAL TRENDS HAVE SEEN A SHIFT TOWARDS LARGE UNINTERRUPTED GLAZED OPENINGS, JUXTAPOSED BETWEEN HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ALIGNMENTS.
The dynamics of modern windows are unique in offering not only proven engineered performance, but enhanced employee productivity. With corporations coming under increasing pressure to meet social obligations, there is a drive towards promoting eco-friendly designs. The demand for solar shading solutions has become a primary factor when designing zero-energy requirements. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that 18% of all heat loss is through windows and with the increase in glazing in commercial buildings this will have a significant effect on energy bills. Controlling the energy of solar heat and light has a considerable effect on the energy needs of a building. It is a key element for improving the energy efficiency and daylight management of buildings. In line with this preference of increased expanses of glazing and contract market demands, Decora introduce a range of Uniview 3200 Superfine screen fabrics to meet the demand of wider and lightweight solar shading solutions. Uniview 3200 Superfine is available in 1.83m, 2.5m and 3m roll widths, as well as 89mm vertical, providing the optimum solar shading collection. The refined weave of the Uniview 3200 Superfine is 35% lighter than standard screen. The fine construction of the fabric allows for easy
operation without compromising on protection and ensuring a better diffusion of light. Suitable for larger windows, at 3% openness, this collection compliments the benefits of its sister ranges, including Fire Retardancy certified and Greenguard accredited. Available in 6 colours this collection is uniquely available in a vertical width of 89mm to meet the demand for more screen blind solutions. The larger 3m width enables manufacturers to optimise usage of the fabric, offering less wastage and in turn cost savings, further enhancing the attractiveness of these fabrics to architects and contractors. Uniview offers the insulating properties of the buildings glazing, through efficient management of insulation and solar shading. Solar heat gains can be maximised in winter, thus reducing heat gain in the summer impacting on the cooling and heating requirements of a building costs. The solar shading properties of Uniview present the ultimate contract fabric and performance test results demonstrate the benefits linked to both energy efficiency for heat and solar transmittance. As solar shading is now an accepted energy saving measure, the correct specification of window coverings is paramount. Decora’s collection of Uniview screen fabrics; 1000, 3000, 3100, 3200 Superfine and Zero presents the perfect performance measure for solar shading.
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English Premier League Like it or lump it, football is back. The 2015/16 season looks set to be a blockbuster with giants Man United & Arsenal spending big in the hopes of catching league champions Chelsea. Dates: 8th August
EuroHockey Championships 2015 The EuroHockey Championships showcase the best eight field hockey teams, including Germany, Netherlands and Belgium, for both the men's and women's game in Europe. Dates: 21st - 30th August Price: FREE
Reading & Leeds Festival The oldest popular music festival in the world famous for its alternative, indie, punk and metal headliners which have ranged from Metallica to Eminem over the years. Dates: 28-30th August
Galway Oyster Festival Oyster openers from 16 countries will be vying for title. Estonia’s Anti Lipek is the current holder of the title. There will be plenty of live music throughout the day. Date: 24th - 27th Sept Price: ₏70.00
Oktoberfest 2015 Drink beer by the litre, eat traditional Bavarian food, listen to live brass bands playing traditional Bavarian music and enjoy yourself with hundreds of other people from all over the world. Dates: 19th Sep - 4th Oct Price: FREE
Rugby World Cup 2015 The Rugby world cup brings a fantastic summer of sport to a fitting end. With the home nations looking strong and England enjoying home advantage, this years RWC looks set to be one to remember! Dates: 18th Sep - 31st Oct
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THE OUTDOORS HAS A NATURAL APPEAL TO HUMANS. THE SKY, EARTH, WATER, AND OTHER OUTDOOR ELEMENTS MAKE US FEEL REFRESHED, CALM, AND ONE WITH THE EARTH. HOW DO WE GET THESE ELEMENTS FROM THE OUTDOORS, INSIDE OF OUR HOME YOU ASK?
Bring in natural fibers, textures and patterns: Wicker, Rattan, Hemp, and Jute are all materials that are inspired by nature. In decor – baskets, rugs, and lampshades will help bring the outdoors into your relaxing space. Use colours that are inspired by the outdoors. Green’s remind us of the earth, grass and plants. Blues are refreshing like water and the sky. Yellows evoke a sense of freshness, like the sun and fresh flowers. Neutral tones such as white, tan and beige make your interiors feel natural, and clean. Use natural flooring instead of manmade flooring. Wood, cork, bamboo are all flooring materials that feel warm, natural and inviting under foot. By bringing these flooring choices into your home, your mind will appeal to the organic elements of natural flooring, instead of cold man-made materials.
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GO COASTAL Deck out your living room with red, white and blue blinds from our Fabric Box Bella collection. For an airy, nautical feel, keep walls, floors and woodwork bright white, then inject colour with furniture and accessories. Sky blue upholstery, a sand-coloured rugs, wicker storage units and cushions with red, white and blue deckchair stripes or fun sea-themed motifs - you'll feel as though you're on holiday all year round. Keep lighting simple and ship shape - choose fisherman pendants and lanterns.
Enigma / Glory
RECLINE IN RATTEN
FRENCH STYLE
GREEN & CREAM
Bring the outside in - with a grassgreen rug, natural woven furniture and sunny floral accessories, you can enjoy a summer garden feel even when it's raining outside! Introduce Puriti, a lightly textured voile which softly filters light in a Cashmere or Cotton. A few kitsch potted palms look chic and help to blur the boundary between indoors and out.
Inspired by french vintage styles, distressed wood on wall art, accessories and furniture with a glint of hand beaded lighting and pendants. Soft woven textiles with soft neutrals and pinks to create light and warmth. Beautiful tier on tier Hessian Santa Fe Vermont shutters would add a sleek seduction, jealousy would be unavoidable.
Keep windows free of curtains to maximise light and space. This light and bright living room brings the outside in with plenty of natural textures and green accents, by adding the delectable Splash fabric would finish this room completely.
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Vitra / Zorro
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Skye roof blinds offer many benefits and are a practical solution for providing comfort in your home or other interior space. Skye roof blinds are the smart choice for skylights, eliminating unwanted heat and glare. There are many plus sides to roof blinds. HEAT LOSS A skylight in the roof of a house will typically lose 35 percent to 45 percent more heat during cold weather than the exact same window installed on
the side of the house; that's because heated air rises. In addition, skylights also lose heat through radiation. While normal windows are often protected by exterior shutters, overhangs, trees or shrubs, skylights are exposed to colder weather and decreasing night time temperatures. HEAT GAIN A skylight is more exposed to the high summer sun than vertical windows, skylights can let into your home as much as four times the amount of heat as a standard window so the
need to keep your room cool in the summer is a must. More and more people are spending nearly 90% of their time indoors. As humans we need comfortable living conditions including thermal conditions, fresh air and daylight when they are indoors. The sleek aluminium sealed side channels keep heat loss to a minimum, while maximising energy saving when the blind is fully closed.
LIGHT CONTROL Roof blinds are the perfect way to control light from a roof window, the fabric can be set to any position in order to provide optimum light control. The range of Fabric Box fabrics available for Skye roof blinds, enables users to choose from plains, designs, dim out or black out fabrics. When using blackout fabric and the sealed side channels a total blackout solution is available, perfect for those needing to turn day light in to dark.
• • • • • • • •
BENEFITS OF SKYE 8 Ready-made blinds. Also available in Fabric Box fabrics and kits. Reduce excessive heat and glare in your living space (blocks up to 90% of solar heat and UV rays). Sealed side channels keep heat loss to a minimum. Blackout blinds reduce glare by 40%. Easy to install. Can be used with most skylight windows.* Optimal light control - The
blind fabric can be set to any position.
BE THERE FOR THE LAUNCH @ THE BBSA 2015 EXHIBITION.
* For use in Velux, New Generation Velux, Fakro, Keylite and Rooflite windows.
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Everybody loves cocktails. With a good cocktail, you can turn a party from a boring gathering into a happy soiree. Learning to make great cocktails is a fantastic life skill to have, because it enables you to break the ice at a social gathering and gives you a great excuse to interact with people. Everybody loves a good bartender. While mixing drinks can become a lifelong passion, it’s easy to pick up the basics and start making cocktails. You don’t need to learn hundreds of recipes, just learning how to make a good Mojito, Margarita and Cosmopolitan is enough to make you the most popular person in the room.
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WATERMELON SANGRIA In a blender, puree some seedless watermelon cubes. Pour through a fine strainer into a pitcher. Add white wine, Vodka, Cointreau and Citrus Syrup. Stir and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Stir again, then pour the Sangria into ice-filled white wine glasses and garnish with some skewered watermelon.
BLOOD ORANGE MARGARITAS In a large pitcher, mix some blood orange juice with lime juice, Cointreau and Silver Tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes. Spread a small mound of salt on a small plate. Moisten the outer rim of glasses with the blood orange wedge, then dip the rims into the salt to lightly coat. Add ice to the pitcher and stir well, then strain into the prepared glasses. Garnish each Margarita with a blood orange slice and a sage sprig and serve.
ARIZONA SUNSET - NON ALCOHOLIC Place a few ice cubes in a glass, add a splash of Grenadine to the glass. In a small pitcher or other container, stir Sprite and orange juice together. Slowly pour over the Grenadine, garnish with cherries or orange slices, if desired.
CRANBERRY ROSEMARY REFRESHER - NON ALCOHOLIC Add water to a covered saucepan or small pot and bring to a boil. Add rosemary and lower heat to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, covered, for one hour. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.Juice the cranberries, apples and passion fruit. Mix with the chilled rosemary water. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and serve over ice.
MOJITO Put four lime wedges into a glass, add sugar and muddle around to release the lime juice. Put mint leaves on one hand and clap to bruise the leaves. Rub the mint leaves around the rim of the glass and drop them in. Gently push the mint down into the lime juice. Half fill the glass with crushed ice and pour in Bacardi Carta Blanco. Stir the mix together until the sugar dissolves. Top up with crushed ice, a splash of the soda water and garnish it with a sprig of mint.
CUCUMBER GIN & TONIC POPSICLES Mix together, in a large pitcher, tonic, gin and lime juice. Cut a cucumber into thin slices and place the slices into Popsicle moulds, 2 per mould, then pour in tonic mix. Freeze overnight before serving.
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POOL A
POOL B
POOL C
POOL D
AUSTRALIA
SOUTH AFRICA
NEW ZEALAND
FRANCE
ENGLAND
SAMOA
ARGENTINA
IRELAND
WALES
SCOTLAND
TONGA
ITALY
FIJI
JAPAN
GEORGIA
CANADA
URUGUAY
USA
NAMIBIA
ROMANIA
FRIDAY - SEP 18
SATURDAY - SEP 19
SATURDAY - SEP 19
SATURDAY - SEP 19
ENGLAND V FIJI
S. AFRICA V JAPAN
TONGA V GEORGIA
IRELAND V CANADA
SUNDAY - SEP 20
SUNDAY - SEP 20
SUNDAY - SEP 20
SATURDAY - SEP 19
WALES V URUGUAY
SAMOA V USA
N. ZEALAND V ARG
FRANCE V ITALY
WEDNESDAY - SEP 23
WEDNESDAY - SEP 23
THURSDAY - SEP 24
WEDNESDAY - SEP 23
AUSTRALIA V FIJI
SCOTLAND V JAPAN
N. ZEALAND V NAMIBIA
FRANCE V ROMANIA
SATURDAY - SEP 26
SATURDAY - SEP 26
FRIDAY - SEP 25
SATURDAY - SEP 26
ENGLAND V WALES
S. AFRICA V SAMOA
ARG V GEORGIA
ITALY V CANADA
SUNDAY - SEP 27
SUNDAY - SEP 27
TUESDAY - SEP 29
SUNDAY - SEP 27
AUSTRALIA V URUGUAY
SCOTLAND V USA
TONGA V GEORGIA
IRELAND V ROMANIA
THURSDAY - OCT 01
SATURDAY - OCT 03
FRIDAY - OCT 02
THURSDAY - OCT 01
WALES V FIJI
SAMOA V JAPAN
N. ZEALAND V GEORGIA
FRANCE V CANADA
SATURDAY - OCT 03
SATURDAY - OCT 03
SUNDAY - OCT 04
SUNDAY - OCT 04
ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA
S. AFRICA V SCOTLAND
ARG V TONGA
IRELAND V ITALY
TUESDAY - OCT 06
WEDNESDAY - OCT 07
WEDNESDAY - OCT 07
TUESDAY - OCT 06
FIJI V URUGUAY
S. AFRICA V USA
NAMIBIA V GOERGIA
CANADA V ROMANIA
SATURDAY - OCT 10
SATURDAY - OCT 10
FRIDAY - OCT 09
SUNDAY - OCT 11
AUSTRALIA V WALES
SAMOA V SCOTLAND
N. ZEALAND V TONGA
ITALY V ROMANIA
SATURDAY - OCT 10
SUNDAY - OCT 11
SUNDAY - OCT 11
SUNDAY - OCT 11
ENGLAND V URUGUAY
USA V JAPAN
ARG V NAMIBIA
FRANCE V IRELAND
SATURDAY - OCT 31
THE FINAL VENUES QF 1: Twickenham
VS
QF 2: Millennium Stadium QF 3: Millennium Stadium QF 4: Twickenham SF 1: Twickenham
WINNER
SF2: Millennium Stadium 3rd: Olympic Stadium Final: Twickenham
WINNER
SUNDAY - OCT 24
SUNDAY - OCT 25
SEMI FINAL 1
SEMI FINAL 2
VS
VS
WINNER
WINNER
WINNER
WINNER
SATURDAY - OCT 17
SATURDAY - OCT 17
SUNDAY - OCT 18
SUNDAY - OCT 18
QUARTER FINAL 1
QUARTER FINAL 2
QUARTER FINAL 3
QUARTER FINAL 4
VS
VS
VS
VS
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INTRODUCING
AVA I L A B L E I N 2 5 , 3 5 & 5 0 M M S L A T S W W W. S U N W O O D - B L I N D S . C O . U K