Wallabies v Ireland, Croke Park November 16, 2009. Wallabies drew with Ireland 20 all. Photo by Pothale
Whilst the hosts for both the 2015 and 2019 IRB World Cups have been announced to be England and Japan respectively, there has been minimal discussion about potential hosts for any subsequent World Cups.
From where I stand, there are three possible choices to host the 2023 IRB World Cup: Argentina, Ireland and Italy. From a tourists perspective, I think all three of them would be a winner, and from a rugby perspective, all three contenders have stronger credentials than Japan.
Argentina
Los Pumas hold a proud history in rugby, and have beaten every major team except South Africa and New Zealand, and they have actually drawn with the All Blacks. In the 2007 IRB World Cup, they were the third-placed side.
On their home turf, Argentina traditionally are a lot harder to beat. If Argentina were chosen as the hosts for 2023, it would mean that the IRB World Cup will have been held on every continent, except Antarctica and North America, and this would be achieved within 40 years (it only took FIFA 64 years for a nation outside Europe or Latin America to host the World Cup).
A big plus is that games could be shared with other South American countries, such as Chile, Uruguay or Brazil. Given that Rugby Sevens is due to make its debut in Rio 2016, the Brazilians may well have an appetite for the full version of the game.
Finally, there are plenty of futbol stadia that could be used to host games, and generally the Argentine futbol scene has never opposed rugby – Maradona (Argentina’s favourite son and its most famous citizen) is a confirmed supporter of Los Pumas and in 2007, the two biggest sports teams in the country (Boca Juniors and River Plate) agreed to defer their clash (the Superclasico) to enable Argentine sports fans to watch Los Pumas qualify for their first every semi-finals of the IRB World Cup.
The first major barrier to an IRB World Cup being held in Argentina is that it is in an unfriendly timezone for European, African and Antipodean viewers, and this is likely to reduce the potential pay-TV dollars an Argentine World Cup can command.
The second major barrier is the tournament hosting fee that the IRB charges, which is likely to be upwards of $US 100 million, and Argentina’s economy is not such that the UAR or the Argentine government can really afford it.
The final barrier is the UAR itself, an organisation which has almost brought the sport in Argentina to bankruptcy and is well known for its opposition to professionalism. Given this, I have doubts that the UAR could successfully run an IRB World Cup in a professional manner.
Ireland
Whilst Ireland has hosted World Cup games in 1991 and 1999, I believe that the Irish would do a fantastic job of hosting it on their own, and market it as an unified Irish bid, as for rugby purposes, both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are one and the same, and potentially this would be the biggest sporting event to be held in Ireland to date.
Ireland has certainly improved itself on the field over the past few years, such that they are ranked in the top five teams in the world. Domestically, rugby in Ireland has improved its profile substantially, as evidenced by a Heineken Cup game between two Irish provincial teams drawing over 80,000 to Croke Park. Ireland also has the benefit of being in the European timezone, and is therefore very attractive for sponsors.
Again, the IRB hosting fee is likely to be an impediment to the hosting of the tournament as in the case of Argentina, but a more pressing issue is the availability of grounds. Whilst the Aviva Stadium is looking to be a fantastic 50,000 seat stadium, and Thomond Park is also new, you need a lot more than two stadia to host a World Cup.
There are plenty of suitably sized stadia in Ireland, the issue is that the vast majority of these are owned or controlled by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Historically the GAA has not been the greatest fan of rugby, to the point that rugby was not permitted to be played at GAA grounds, although this opposition has diminished to the point that Ireland has been playing all of its Six Nations home games at Croke Park, the home of the GAA.
However, the GAA may not be so keen as to give a rival sport, which happens to be foreign, a massive free kick, and this is understandable. The bottom-line is that if the GAA is not kept onside, Ireland will never be in a position to host the IRB World Cup on its own.
Italy
Italy did lodge a submission to host the 2015 or 2019 IRB World Cups, under the slogan “For the Enlargement of the Frontiers of Our Sport.” Whilst this bid was ultimately unsuccessful, it certainly looked like a great bid, with plenty of fantastic stadia, transport facilities, easy access for fans from France, Britain and Ireland and in a favourable time-zone for European and African viewers.
On top of this, the Italian government was prepared to fund the excessive IRB hosting fee, although whether this is again the case in 2023 remains to be seen, especially if the Italian economy goes the way of Greece and Portugal.
The major impediment to a successful hosting of an Italian IRB World Cup is the Italian team itself. The Italian team really needs to be a lot more competitive than they are now. Italy has never made it out of the group stage of the IRB World Cup and have never beaten any of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or England.
Additionally, the Italian team has become somewhat of a refuge for other nationalities, in particular Argentines, and the average Italian can be forgiven for scratching his head as to why his national rugby team is dominated by players with Argentine accents. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that given the proximity to the likes of France, England and Ireland, thousands of fans are likely to flock to Italy and help ensure the tournament is kept alive.
In conclusion, from a personal viewpoint, I would love to see Argentina get awarded 2023, as it would be a reward for a country which has given a lot to the world of rugby union and it would be a massive opportunity to win new fans in South America.
Adam Smith
Guest
It should without a shadow of a doubt be Argentina. They love their sports, they're passionate about the game, it's a big country with about 42 million people so it's a good market to push the game into. They've hosted big sports tournaments in the past well, they have lots of stadiums, their fans make noise. They are in the top 10 world rankings, have got good results at times with the powerhouses. I also just have a gut feeling that they want it the most, that it would mean the most to them if they got it. All they need to do is find some solid financial backing and keep asking the public to attend the Rugby games there to keep things hot. I will be very happy to see it go there. Also Rugby at the Olympics at Brazil should generate awareness of the game in South America.
Adam Smith
Guest
2am games isn't going to happen. GAA stadiums being done up for free? What are you talking about, Irish have to pay for this.
kieran
Guest
I reckon Argentina should really host the 2023 world cup. Not only do they have good stadiums and it would help to have a world cup in another continent, the Argentina fans make really make a huge noise! I went to see them play against England in the 2011 World Cup and even though there were probably only about 15,000of them there, they easily drowned out the English supporters! Even in Invercargill, where they played Romania, they made a huge noise! Imagine an Argentine stadium of 50,000 of them all singing, dancing and chanting!
Cliff
Guest
Hey everyone search NZ vs France Forward Pass, the New Zealand commentator says "MICHALAK, FORWARD PASS THE REFEREE (ENGLISH RUGBY REF WAYNE BARNES) MISSED IT, MICHALAK, TRY, OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" ): He has ruined New Zealand's Heart especially mine.
Clifford
Guest
Disagree with you South Africa won the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, so that means that they don't deserve to host the Rugby World Cup anymore, give it to Argentina, because that's a cool country.
Kevin Breslin
Guest
Ireland and Italy joint bid would be lethal, I could see it working.
Master Yoda
Guest
Pool Matches Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti stadium, Called “El Monumental, Buenos Aires City 64,000 spectators Amalfitani Stadium. Called “El Fortin, Buenos Aires City , Cap 49,540 spectators City of La Plata Stadium, La Plata City of Buenos Aires Province 53,000 spectators Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, Mendoza City, Mendoza Province 45,268 spectators Brigadier General Estanislao López stadium, Santa Fe City, Santa Fe Province 40,000 spectators (the stadium is under construction for the Copa America, currently holds 32,000) Lisandro de la Torre Stadium, called “Gigante de Arroyito”, City of Rosario, province of Santa Fe, 41,654 spectators José María Minella Stadium, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province 35,354 spectators José Fierro Monumental stadium, San Miguel de Tucuman City, Province of Tucuman 32,700 spectators Quarter Finals Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti stadium, City of La Plata Stadium, La Plata City of Buenos Aires Province Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium called “Estadio Olimpico de Cordoba”also called “Chateau Carreras, Cordoba province of Cordoba City 48,878 (57,000 Post Renovation) spectators Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, Mendoza City, Mendoza Province Sermi Final Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium called “Estadio Olimpico de Cordoba”also called “Chateau Carreras in Cordoba City of La Plata Stadium Final Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti stadium,Buenos Aires City 3&4 Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium called “Estadio Olimpico de Cordoba”also called “Chateau Carreras
Master Yoda
Guest
Hello Argentina is in a position to host the World Cup in 2023 if it achieved economic stability and long-term policy as did our neighbor Brazil Argentina hosted the Fifa World Cup soccer in 1978 This year Argentina hosts the FIFA Soccer America cup 2011 In recent years tourism has increased in Argentina, Argentina is world famous for its steaks, Tango, Maradona, Evita, especially French-style buildings in Buenos Aires, its landscapes and the Perito Moreno in Patagonia, Salta colorful mountains and northwestern Argentina, Wines, Cataratas Iguazu There are stadiums that could be used for the Event 1 Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti stadium, Called "El Monumental, Buenos Aires City 64,000 spectators 3 City of La Plata Stadium, La Plata City of Buenos Aires Province 53,000 spectators 2 Amalfitani Stadium. Called "El Fortin, Buenos Aires City , Cap 49,540 spectators 4 Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium called "Estadio Olimpico de Cordoba"also called "Chateau Carreras, Cordoba province of Cordoba City 48,878 (57,000 Post Renovation) spectators 5 Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, Mendoza City, Mendoza Province 45,268 spectators 6 Lisandro de la Torre Stadium, called "Gigante de Arroyito", City of Rosario, province of Santa Fe, 41,654 spectators 7 Brigadier General Estanislao López stadium, Santa Fe City, Santa Fe Province 40,000 spectators (the stadium is under construction for the Copa America, currently holds 32,000) 8 José María Minella Stadium, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province 35,354 spectators 9 José Fierro Monumental stadium, San Miguel de Tucuman City, Province of Tucuman 32,700 spectators 10 Juan Domingo Peron Stadium, Cordoba City, Province of Cordoba. 32,535 spectators 11 Estadio del Bicentenario Stadium. Pocito, San Juan province 25,000 spectators, under construction 12 23 de Agosto Stadium,San Salvador de Jujuy ,Jujuy Province 23,000 spectators under construction 13 Father Ernesto Martearena Stadiun, Salta City, Salta Province 20,408 spectators
Cliff Hallett
Guest
I hope Argentina hosts the 2023 Rugby World Cup because it is a safe country to be in and they know how to play rugby.
Gavin Norman
Guest
I agree. Give it to the US. Look at what the 1994 FIFA World Cup did for Soccer. Argentina will be buoyant with the Four Nations. Time for the IRB to try and crack a massive market (bigger then Asia/Japan).
kovana
Guest
SO What about the price? Is rugby popular or Not in argentina.. Will they fill a test match.. and could they host a successful RWC is the question?.. Are you a AFL or Loig fan?
Matt
Guest
The fans from the Litoral region can already purchase a 'five-match ticket ', allowing them to attend all the matches taking place in each city, at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque (Rosario), Colón CA Stadium (Santa Fe) and Club Atlético Estudiante (Paraná). Ticket prices: • Adult Fee Rosario: $140 • Adult Fee Santa Fe - Paraná: $120 • Infant Fee Rosario: $60 • Infant Fee Santa Fe - Paraná: $50 The clubs will be selling the tickets and will benefit from those sold to their members. In December, the system 'Tu Entrada' will launch the sale of payments to the rest of the country and in March 2010, individual tickets will be available.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
University clashes *used* to attract crowds of 50,000+ but the student populace isn't as big as it used to be and now the bigger clashes only draw 40,000 odd. The peak of Japanese rugby was in the 80s when the All Japan Championship Final between the top university side and the top company side would draw crowds of 60.000+ but nowdays it draws Top League numbers. I don't think people realise how many people go to the university games just because it's their university. I remember one weekend they drew 42,000 for a university clash and the next day only 11,000 for a Test match. There's no correlation between university crowds and the RWC. Can't blame ticket prices either because it only costs around 10 dollars to go to a Test match and you can bring your own food and drink and sit wherever you like. The Bledisloe Cup Test last year proved how difficult it will be for Japan to sell out WC games. The national side is the best it's ever been and no one cares.
Dynamite Dan
Guest
The big rugby comps in Japan are not the Top League, but the University Competition which regularly attracts crowds of 50,000+. There will be huge interest in the Rugby World Cup as the big corporates like Toshiba, Sanyo, Panasonic, Toyota etc get in behind it.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
So what? Do you realise how cheap JWC tickets are? Here's ticket information for 2008: "Tickets are available at £2 for children and £8 for adults for each individual match day, all of which include at least two top class rugby games. Venue packages which give entry to all 10 matches held at any one match venue are available at £8 for children and £30 for adults – or you can choose to follow any one team's progress in the tournament for just £10 for children and £35 for adults."
ohtani's jacket
Guest
A few thousand per game.
kovana
Guest
Rugby IS popular in Argentina OJ.... Dont go saying otherwise.
kovana
Guest
Was is the match attd for the Top league in Japan OJ?
ohtani's jacket
Guest
"Spike in crowds" -- Japan got double the attendances it gets for most Top League games because the JWC is essentially a grassroots event. And not being sold at WC prices.
Matt
Guest
Come on, did you even pretend to read the link OJ? "the opening day attendances were double that achieved in both Wales in 2008 and Japan last year"