The generosity of rugby fans will be matched by the Government after ministers agreed to donate up to £5 million to a World Cup campaign to tackle hunger.

Many ticket holders for the tournament have already donated by opting in to make a payment when they purchased their seats for games, and the charity appeal will continue throughout the Rugby World Cup.

The World Food Programme's Tackle Hunger initiative is providing school meals to children across the globe.

Ahead of the tournament's kick-off tomorrow, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "As England meet Fiji at Twickenham for the opening game of the Rugby World Cup, the eyes of the world will be fixed on the UK for the next six weeks. I would like to wish all the home nations the best of luck.

"While we are all enjoying the action on the pitch, rugby fans across the country will also have a great chance to come together and tackle hunger in some of the poorest countries in the world.

"The World Food Programme has joined forces with World Rugby for the competition and we will match all public donations to their Tackle Hunger campaign pound for pound.

"That means public support will go twice as far in helping to get desperately needed food where it is needed most, whether to malnourished children in Malawi or families forced out of their homes and struggling to survive in conflicts ranging from Syria to South Sudan."