NEW Year celebrations in the North-East will have a rugby theme to mark the arrival of the World Cup in the region during 2015.

Matches will be staged in Newcastle and the city is building its Winter Carnival around the game.

Rugby is the inspiration for an early evening of music, dance, performance and a dazzling firework display, which this year will culminate on the Quayside.

Taking pride of place on the Tyne Bridge, a Rugby World Cup 2015 sign will celebrate Newcastle’s role as official host city of Rugby’s biggest event.

This year’s event is being co-ordinated by creative director Jeanefer Jean-Charles, who has played a key role in some of the country’s biggest cultural events including the Rugby League Cup Opening Ceremony and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

She will work with community groups to develop the Rugby-themed carnival that will celebrate the cultures and traditions of the game, and those of the visiting teams including South Africa, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and Scotland.

A highlight of this year’s carnival will be a participatory dance that spectators can learn and perform on the night.

The World Haka, inspired by the ancient M?ori war dance, is a new piece of choreography by Jeanefer Jean-Charles that celebrates Newcastle’s visiting rugby nations through dance.

Carol Bell, head of culture and major events at the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative said: “Rugby World Cup 2015 is the biggest sporting event taking place in the country next year and we wanted to reflect the excitement and anticipation in the city ahead of the tournament.”

The carnival starts at Monument at 4pm moving down Grey Street and Dean Street for the Quayside with fireworks starting at 6pm.