text: As the World cup draws closer, it is not just in the rugby heartlands that they are beginning to feel the excitement. Twickenham, as the home of rugby, may be gearing up to embrace the sport’s biggest tournament, but on the other side of the capital, the Olympic stadium – built for athletics and destined to be a football ground - is also quietly preparing to get in the oval-ball act. In Newcastle, St James’ Park, usually a footballing stronghold, is another ground about to host Rugby’s premier competition, and as former Bath, Saracens and England prop David ‘Flats’ Flatman has been finding out, from the north east to east London, England is getting rugby-fever. David 'Flats' Flatman has been driving around the Rugby World Cup venues preparing for the tournament . London's Olympic stadium may not be a traditional rugby ground, but the buzz around the game is palpable . ‘Going to all these places and seeing the buzz around the World Cup already, is great,’ says Flats on the drive between Stratford and Twickenham, as he tours around the country visiting the stadiums that will host matches come this autumn as part of BT Sport's Tour de Flats. ‘You kind of expect that kind of a buzz in rugby cities, like Cardiff and Exeter. But when you arrive in Newcastle and the guy who is fixing the cabinet comes over to you to talk about rugby, you realise there’s a proper enthusiasm in places that are normally dominated by football.’ Building that enthusiasm, with the prospect of high-calibre sport on the horizon, is one thing. But as everyone connected with the Olympic stadium knows, maintaining it after the competition is gone is another matter altogether. But Flats is confident that, long term, this World Cup is going to have a lasting effect. ‘There are bound to be studies that come out, or bits of research, 15 minutes after the final whistle of the World Cup final, and say there are only seven more children in Europe playing rugby than there were on Tuesday,’ he jokes. Flats talks to Sportsmail's Jonny Singer on arrival at Twickenham at the end of his 'Tour de Flats' England came up short against France in the Six Nations, but their style of play earned plenty of plaudits . ‘But I think what it needs is a concerted effort to make as much noise, constructive noise, about the Rugby World Cup as possible.’ At the heart of the ‘legacy’ debate, as it was with the Olympics, is the discussion over grassroots sport, and it’s something that Flats’ tour has been focused on. ‘We went to a club in Leicester, with Mike Tindall and Ben Kay, and this is a club, with nothing,’ he recounts. ‘They have absolutely nothing. Part of the World Cup legacy is they will receive upgrades to their facilities. Now, at Wasps or Harlequins, that means 5,000 extra seats. For them that means a shower. ‘Not shower rooms. A shower. They don’t have one. All this sort of stuff, that’s the grassroots.’ Of course, as well as investment and infrastructure, what this World Cup will bring, Stuart Lancaster will hope, is an England team playing with confidence in front of their own fans. For the World Cup to be the inspiration it has the potential to be, England’s performances will matter. If Stuart Lancaster's side can repeat their flowing rugby at the World Cup, they can win the sport fans . Flatman says picking the likes of Danny Cipriani is key to England bringing in new fans during the tournament . ‘A lot of the buzz and the legacy around the World Cup will be how England play,’ admits Flats. ‘How far they get is one side of it, another side is how they perform. ‘They didn’t do enough against France (in last month’s Six Nations) because they didn’t win, but they were fantastic, and everyone loves it, and everyone forgives that. ‘So they want to win, first and foremost, but how they do so will have a big impact.’ Playing attractive rugby is not just a question of attitude, it also depends on personnel, and that is why the former England prop is so glad to see the return of one of the country’s most exciting players, Danny Cipriani. Cipriani may have a reputation as a ‘pretty boy’ but, for Flats, that can’t mask the fact that he is a top player. ‘He’s not a prima donna. Someone gets photographed at a fashion show, and has nice hair, and they say you’re a prima donna. ‘Sam Warburton’s got nice hair and big guns; If he went to Cardiff fashion week he wouldn’t be a prima donna because he’s a hard-nut flanker, and he’s not a fly half. Cipriani was recalled for the Six Nations after impressing at club level over the past few seasons . Flats says investment in the grass-roots will also be important if the Rugby World Cup is to have a legacy . ‘You can’t have a prima donna in the forwards. Why is Danny Cipriani? Just because he’s prettier and smaller. He’s a good bloke and an amazing rugby player. ‘We talk about inspiring young people, who do you think the kids “are” in the playground now, playing rugby? ‘A lot of them will be saying, “I’m Danny Cipriani”. I thought he deserved to get back in the England squad and I’m glad they picked him.’ So, if England play at their fluent best, and the grass roots get the funding they so badly need, could the rugby World Cup produce a new generation of players and fans? Flats thinks so, but only if the tournament is made accessible. ‘There’s a big responsibility of commentators and pundits, without dumbing things down, to simplify things a bit,’ he explains. ‘Offer clarity, and make people who might be first time watchers, like they understand it more. ‘ . If that understand can join the enthusiasm that is clearly building, England could have a tournament with lasting legacy – and not just in south west London. To follow Tour de Flats, tune into Rugby Tonight on Monday 13th and 20th April at 8pm live on BT Sport 1. Land Rovers ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign aims to put grassroots rugby on the global stage.
target: Former England prop David 'Flats' Flatman says the 'buzz' around World Cup is growing .
  Flats says with the right 'constructive noise', competition can build rugby .
  England will need to play exciting rugby to capture public's imagination .
  Recalling the likes of Danny Cipriani is a step in the right direction .