Many thousands of supporters flocked to central London to catch a glimpse of their heroes who won the Webb Ellis Trophy with a 20-17 victory over Australia.

England's Rugby World Cup winners completed an unprecedented day of national celebration with a champagne reception at 10 Downing Street.

Tony Blair dismissed as "nonsense" claims he had turned the reception into a political stunt.

Should the parade have taken place on a public holiday?

If you're out and about in London watching the celebrations today, send your photos to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk

Click here to see some of your pictures.

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your comments:

What's the bet that, if it had been declared a holiday, that most of us would have slept in and missed the whole thing anyway?
Mark, UK

While I think it is a tremendous achievement by the English Rugby Team, and a parade in their honour well deserved. The idea that it should be greeted as a national holiday amazes me. Why, as a nation, can we not celebrate St Georges Day, and use that as a day to celebrate the great achievements of all Englishmen. Each country in the union should be able to celebrate their national days with a public holiday.
Sean, England

We can't get the government to recognise St Andrew's Day, St. David's Day or St George's Day, or make a public holiday out of Armistice Day, a time to celebrate REAL heroes Karen Hunter, Scotland

It's a ludicrous suggestion to make it a public holiday, we can't get the government to recognise St Andrew's Day, St. David's Day or St George's Day, or make a public holiday out of Armistice Day, a time to celebrate REAL heroes. Congratulations to Clive Woodward's team, but don't forget that they never had the prospect of a competitive match until the semi-final, and then it was only the mercurial French, and they were matched point for point by a brave Aussie side who never never really lived up to their billing. The tournament is over. Let's get on with life in the real world.
Karen Hunter, Scotland

I have to wait 37 years to see another great team sporting achievement and they put the celebrations on a Monday. Are they having a laugh...at us.
David, England

Another classic example of England blowing their achievement out of all proportion. Of course it's fantastic, but a public holiday? Only in England. The references to 1966 have been flooding in once again. For the rest of us with our feet on the ground, we applaud the achievement and get on with more important things, like, um, well, anything really.
Dave, Scotland

By the time a national one-off holiday would have been decided on , taking into account employment contracts that do not allow more than 4 public holidays (If any) to be counted, it would have been the middle of next year! Take a day off and enjoy it or celebrate at work. Not many bosses would insist on banning a celebration this time of year anyway.
I'll just say "Well done lads! You did us proud and enjoy your day."
Rick, UK

Perhaps the people of London should stop moaning about when the parade is, or how exactly the nations politicians will be meeting the team and just acknowledge the fact there is a big celebration to enjoy Lindsay, Scotland

I'd like to take a new angle: why is the national media still over-hyped about the England rugby team winning the world cup 16 days ago? I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Johnny Wilkinson is an excellent player and indeed that the rest of the team deserve similar praise. However, the actual final was on the 22nd of November and the news coverage is still as sensational as if the game was won yesterday. I may be alone in my opinion here but if any of the other home nations had won the rugby world cup, then I doubt that the media coverage would still be as great. I also have reservations as to the treatment they would receive. Perhaps the people of London should stop moaning about when the parade is, or how exactly the nations politicians will be meeting the team and just acknowledge the fact there is a big celebration to enjoy.
Lindsay, Scotland, UK

If the majority of the population can't be bothered remembering the millions who died in two world wars on the "proper" day, what makes anyone think that a national holiday would be spent celebrating this fantastic achievement ? Most people would carry on with their normal lives - Christmas shopping, washing the car etc - anything but watch the parade and the celebrations. By all means let's enjoy the success - but not with a public holiday. And as for the day itself, there are so many different views about whether it should be a weekend, a weekday, what time etc, the organisers couldn't win whatever they did. It's happening so let's just let the players bask in their justified limelight - and stop carping.
Steve, UK

If a group of British scientists discovered a cure fro cancer or HIV, would they receive such adulation? Why do we, as a nation, celebrate the trivial and trivialise the important?
Albert, UK

Someone tell these miserable old guys who whinge that "it's only a game" to cheer up. Finally England have something worth celebrating - let's just be thankful that we're on top of the world, whether we have the parade on a public holiday or not.
Ben Wakeling, UK

I think without a doubt it should have been on a weekend or been made a public holiday, so that all fans could celebrate and not get miserable stuck at work.
Emma Cheyne, England

Yes it certainly should! I really feel I am missing out stuck in an office with no access to a TV. Good luck to them. We should be very proud of our winners.
Jimmy, UK

Wouldn't it have been better to have held the parade tomorrow (Tuesday), ending up at Twickenham in time for the Varsity Match?
Simon, UK

I think that the parade should be on a weekend because kids wont be allowed to have a day off to see the England team with their trophy.
Samantha Simpson, England

I don't care much for Rugby, less for England, but I will gladly use that excuse for a public holiday!
Rob, Scotland

Why was the parade not planned for a Sunday so that everyone who wanted to go could do so without bringing the country to a halt.
Arron Barber, England

For goodness sake people. This is a game that we are talking about. Personally my heroes are the doctors and nurses in our hospitals, fire-fighters who think nothing of running into a burning building to save a life or our troops stationed all over the world in sometimes horrendous situations. When will we have a parade for them? A good win at a game is just that, a game, the use of the words 'brave' and 'hero' are sadly so inappropriate.
Stewart, Edinburgh

I'm watching the parade on the internet but it's just not the same thing as watching it on TV with a bunch of mates and having a celebratory party, even if there was no way I could get to the actual event. As others have said - many other countries have holidays to celebrate achievements (and days of official mourning as well). It's a day for showing national pride.
Jenni, England

My daughter's school is showing the parade in the hall - the lovely head teacher is a huge rugby fan. Unfortunately, my bosses aren't ......
Lesley, England

The entire extended team and coaching staff did us all proud and we should mark their historic victory and then all follow their example of dedication, cool and modesty! Politicians in particular and footballers take note.
Barry Caldwell, England

Although I appreciate that we have won a World Cup, there is no way I feel this should have been declared a bank holiday. Yes, there are many rugby fans out there but there are also many more people who have little or no interest in the sport and see it as only a game.
C Wright, England

Definitely. I'm not a massive rugby fan but it's great to see our national side winning such a big victory. If it had been the football world cup it would definitely have been a holiday.
John Williams, England

A brilliant victory, and not before time.
Alec Hodson, England

England doesn't get to celebrate much, so we shouldn't feel guilty for having a bit of fun! Tony, UK

I can't believe how many kill joys there are around. England doesn't get to celebrate much, so we shouldn't feel guilty for having a bit of fun!
Tony, UK

Sorry to put the dampeners on an admittedly fine achievement, but the huge majority of people really are not bothered if there will be a parade or not. Rugby is a minority sport, played and watched by the middle classes.
Phil, England

I think it's disgraceful that the parade day is not a public holiday - it would be in any other country. It's also disgraceful that politicians on both sides of the fence are trying to cash in on the publicity. How about bringing our number of public holidays in line with the rest of Europe?
Chris Turner, England

Congratulations to the whole of the England Rugby team. England definitely deserved to win. However, it would have been appreciated more if the victory parade was held on a weekend so that the many people who supported the team to attend.
Pratiksha, England

Being left to watch it on TV just isn't the same Jemma & Michelle, England

We're at Uni in the North West and originally come from London. We're totally devastated that the parade is not on a weekend, or that this triumphant victory is not a general holiday because we cannot go and celebrate with the thousands of others in central London. Being left to watch it on TV just isn't the same!
Jemma & Michelle, England!

It's great that the English Rugby team did so well, but some people are just getting far too carried away with it all. It's just a game! People who have never taken any interest in rugby before suddenly becoming sycophantic fans just looks silly.
Steve R, Essex, UK

Please, please, please will people stop whining about details of the victory parade etc. I have had to work today and will be watching the parade on video tonight. Who cares about political one-up-man-ship or any of that old twaddle, it is a day for the team and the fans and I hope they all enjoy it.
Vic Walker, England

Who was it that decided to hold the parade on a Monday - must have been a football fan? I would have loved to have taken my wife and kids to see the Boys. It should have been a public holiday, or at least held at the weekend.
Paul, England

This parade is for the people of England to celebrate not for the politicians - they should be left out of the equation or join in with everybody else in the streets. I'm sure the England Rugby Team would prefer to be amongst their true and loyal supporters
Cherry Batchelor, England

When South Africa won the rugby world cup in 1995, they had a victory parade in all the major cities. When is England going to accept that there are more cities than London? The fans are across the UK. Bring the victory parade to the UK!
Welna Bowden, England

I think it's brilliant England won the World Cup, but I think I speak for a lot of people who are sick of the media spoiling things by moaning about everything. There was an outcry when there was not going to be a parade, now there is an outcry because the media decide its on the wrong day. Give it a rest - loads of people will be there anyway and it will be a great day.
Simon Weston, England

One extra day off every 37 years is very little to ask P, England

It should have been a Public Holiday. After all, one extra day off every 37 years is very little to ask. However, had the government decided to give us the day off, it would have been dismissed as a populist measure by the opposition parties.
P, England

Why should the parade just be held in London? The majority in the country live outside of London. Rugby has it's roots more in the Midlands and the North so why not organise parades around the country to give everyone a chance to see the trophy?
Martyn, England

Ludicrous! Of course the parade should have been on a public holiday, or a weekend. We are trying to encourage children to take up the sport to ensure a heritage of great rugby players, yet we do not seem to be encouraging this with one simple thing - some clear thought!
Gary Martin, England

If the parade was at the weekend I would have definitely gone. But as it is being held on my birthday, I plan on going to go into central London during my lunch break then I can say at least I went and joined in the fun!
Emma Hughes, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

It would have been nice to have it on a day where most people were not working. Either a weekend or coincide it with a public holiday. I would also like to see it paraded at Rugby clubs were children are trained and brought into the game. I play for the Sheffield Tigers where there is a good number of young rugby players, between 10 and 18, who could benefit from such a gesture, and it may help breed the next set of world cup winners.
Sam K, England

As a huge Rugby League fan, and someone who isn't a fan of the union game, I think this day should be a national celebration of what the England Rugby Union team has achieved - a World Cup! Regardless of what sport you like England have won a World Cup and we should all be proud of that! We all should be spending the day paying tribute to them and celebrating their victory.
Paul, England

Enjoy the event and stop this moaning about public holidays, I have no chance of being there to see them but I will watch on the TV. As with the final I will be supporting England for the great achievement. But not a public holiday - would the same people be clambering for a public holiday if it was Scotland or Wales that had won. I think not, enjoy it the team deserve it.
Brian, Scotland, UK

This is history and thousands will have missed out Julie Marshall, England

I just can't believe that it is on a Monday. Lots of people are missing this momentous occasion. It should have been Sunday. Heavan knows when England will ever again win any form of World Cup. This is history and thousands will have missed out.
Julie Marshall, England

Come on folks, stop moaning about what day it should be on - you won and that's all that matters. If it was a Saturday/Sunday the players would have to miss games for their clubs. For many committed players that is not an option.
Chris, Scotland

I will not be able to get to London to see the team, but I will still be thinking of them. I think it's great for England as a whole. Well done Martin Johnson and the guys. Don't forget these players came back after winning the world cup and the following week were playing for their club sides. The only time that would suit everybody would be at the end of the rugby season on a weekend, but I for one think that would be too late.
Kevin, England

There should not even have been such a big victory parade. It was just a game, not a war. I cannot understand why grown men get so worked up over a game.
R. Harwood, U.K.

It couldn't be a weekend because of the rugby fixtures, that I can understand, but a Monday at midday - wouldn't a Friday have been better? There's more chance of getting out off work, some factories still close early etc. Poor planning and the only people who will get to see this parade is Londoners. I shall be busy trying to get into work in London and back home again! It's purgatory at the best of times, without out all the added disruption. Of course the parade should have been held on a Sunday, preferably around midnight!
Terence H Coleman, UK

I'm unable to make the parade due to work and think that possibly a bank holiday should have been declared. But I was lucky enough to be one of the first few people at Heathrow two weeks ago - I feel that I did my bit for the boys then. For now I'll have to make do with hoping the video timer works!
Melanie King, Proud to say - England!

Yes, of course the parade should have taken place on a public holiday or a Saturday or Sunday. If New York can give ticker tape welcomes to high achievers, how can Brits expect excellence when they concern themselves with what the traffic will be like rather than achievement of their sports stars.
Lloyd Lewis, Canada

Aside from the political snipes and the sour grapes from non English folks, (a wins a win, however it comes, as all rugby supporters know), this will be a great day for all the happy fans that can get to the parade. I am not a political animal but I am an England rugby fan and think it is fantastic. I can't get to London today because I have to work as well but I still don't care, I will watch the coverage on the box when I get home and feel the pride glowing from the 'boys'.
Kay G, England

Better we have a parade on a Monday than not at all UK/Aus

Good grief there are some miserable people out there. You can't please all the people all of the time - better we have a parade on a Monday than not at all. If you can't go (I can't as I'm in Sydney) then get the TV on and cheer them on at home/work - and it will still be a memorable day. What these guys have achieved, and the way they have gone about it, deserves praise and celebration from every Englishman in the world!
Adrian, UK/Aus

Exactly how would anyone organise a public holiday at such short notice? Especially in a country which can't even organise its public services at several years' notice. Under the circumstances, I would imagine companies would be fairly flexible about allowing staff to take an hour or two off to see the parade or watch it on TV. It's not exactly the kind of thing that happens every week.
David Hazel, UK

No! How does the media manage to confuse England with the English rugby team. Get real guys - its only a game.
Bill Potter, England

After reading some of the negative comments here, I am willing to bet that it would be a different story had this been football. If the England football team had won the world cup, people would have been demanding a public holiday in celebration. All I have to say to these people is, at least we don't have to dream about winning the world cup in rugby, like we do in football.
Martin, UK

This reflects the Government's final triumph of gimmick and spin over serious international substance. The withdrawal of Zimbabwe presents the Commonwealth with one of its most significant diplomatic challenges in recent history. But no. Tony Blair would rather be shaking hands with Johnny Wilkinson to scrape a few votes than engaging in serious international talks. Sad but true.
Alex, UK

I don't remember a public holiday in 1966, when England won the Football World Cup, as for turning the reception into a political stunt, Mr Blair would have been castigated if he had ignored this celebration, now he is being castigated for celebrating this achievement, He can't win with this press and media.
Fred Marsden, UK

It is frustrating that the parade is held on a working day. I was looking forward to participate in the parade and gave the players the welcome they should have deserved. By choosing a working day, does the committee expect us to apply leave? Just cannot understand why they could not choose a weekend. More British should celebrate this together as One Nation, One People!
Christina Spybey, United Kingdom

The day shouldn't have been held on a holiday. It should be a holiday, in recognition of the achievements of out national rugby team. Other countries celebrate national team successes by having celebration days, so why shouldn't we?
Andy B, UK

We won! Nothing else matters - except perhaps to run it at a time that ensures that the Aussies and Kiwis see it!
Anon, UK

Any other country would have made this special day a general holiday Mazza, This England

It doesn't matter what day this happens. It is a fantastic achievement that everybody can be involved in celebrating. Please somebody just keep the politicians quiet from squabbling over who is invited. It isn't their day...
Bruce Shaw, England

Book the day as holiday and then have the flu. That way you get another day's holiday in lieu. Enjoy!
Les Woods, England/UK

Any other country would have made this special day a general holiday. Or at least it could have been done at the weekend - there's a lot of voters out there none too pleased with this fiasco.
Mazza, This England

Get a grip. It was a three point victory achieved largely by penalties, as were the qualifying round results, in a sport most English people had taken no interest in until the prospect of victory, and know less about than Beckham's hairband.
Chris K, Islington

The Downing Street reception for the England team is a government reception, not a political one. If Michael Howard was prime minister would he have invited opposition parties?
Martin Shrimplin, UK

Who cares about the traffic congestions on a Monday morning, the hell with traffic? That's the attitude I feel that these organisers have portrayed. Good luck to them and to the system of this country.
Neil Patel, UK

There are thousands of people who would love to have seen the parade and cheered our winners, but Monday lunchtime could not have been a worse time as most people are at work or school. We are exasperated.
Pauline Perry, England

Why should drivers and the people of London be inconvenienced just to satisfy the egos of politicians and a group of highly paid individuals? John Spencer, Scotland

Why should drivers and the people of London be inconvenienced just to satisfy the egos of politicians and a group of highly paid individuals who should be thankful they have the opportunity to travel the world at other people's expense.
John Spencer, Scotland

We all know that this is a political stunt from an embattled prime minister to try to re-gain some lost popularity from the voters, but shouldn't the Queen be hosting it exclusively given that she is still the head of state? I feel sorry for the victorious rugby team who are being cynically exploited by this government.
John Harding, Lancaster, England

Given the disgusting way in which the BBC was denied access to Wilkinson's winning kick by the IRB the parade should have been cancelled.
Phil Thomas, UK

I don't really care when the parade is, but want to know if the government or the London borough is paying for it, as I really object to my tax being wasted this way, when useful members of society such as nurses and firemen are constantly left short.
Matt, UK

Children who want to celebrate their heroes will have to cut school. As an adult I think it's a fantastic chance for me to celebrate, but surely it should have been done at a time that's more convenient to all those school children who now have some really fine contemporary sportsmen to look up to?

It's just a shame I can't be there to see it Matthew, UK

What are all those parents who don't live in London going to do? Video the parade so that the kids can see it when they come home from school?

Seeing how the parade was delayed by two weeks they should have been able to find a better time for a parade when the future of English rugby could take part.
Christine, UK

I for one would love to be able to cheer the team on, however like most people, I don't have the opportunity to be able to take a holiday to watch.

It's the first major trophy a British team has won in my lifetime and judging by the "success" we have in other sports, it'll probably be our last. It's just a shame I can't be there to see it.
Matthew, UK

They should make it a holiday, it's just one day after all and it's not often we win.
Tom, England

Yes. A bank holiday would've been better. But the Christmas ones are not appropriate. So, unfortunately, rugby supporters who don't live or work in London will have to miss out on the celebration.
Shaun, UK

After the Battle of Waterloo, the Prince Regent when in his cups described how he led the decisive charge, although he was safe at home in Britain when the battle was fought.

In years to come, will Tony Blair be claiming he scored the winning drop goal? He's done everything else to get in on the act.
Ray Burke, England