Heathrow scrum as City bosses land

ANYONE with business in the City should head for Heathrow's Terminal 4, which today will be thronged with senior executives returning from the rugby in Australia.

Among those touching down are Evelyn de Rothschild, the chairman of NM Rothschild & Sons, Sir Martin Sorrell, the head of advertising giant WPP, and Lord Blyth, chairman of spirits group Diageo.

Tony Froggatt, chief executive of Britain's biggest brewer Scottish & Newcastle, is also making his way home after causing a stir Down Under. Froggatt, who distributes Foster's beer in some parts of Europe, was seen enjoying a few drinks during Saturday's final with Gordon Cairns, chief of Foster's rival Lion Nathan.

Former Vodafone chief executive Sir Christopher Gent, who retired in July, has taken the opportunity to say a final farewell to former colleagues in Australia.

Gent was a guest in one of Vodafone's two corporate boxes on Saturday. Oddly mmO2, the official England team sponsor, was not part of the gathering. Chief executive Peter Erskine stayed at home.

And Tony O'Reilly, chairman of Independent News & Media, avoided the crush by flying out of Sydney on his private jet, bound for Ireland.

British Airways has been a big winner from all this travel, with most flights home fully booked. Those who did manage to snare a seat faced premium prices, with even economy fares as high as £720 one-way.