Ireland have bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup alongside France, Italy and South Africa.
The four unions involved submitted their bids ahead of Thursday’s deadline, World Rugby has confirmed. Ireland, along with their three bid rivals, completed their bid questionnaire, outlining detailed information regarding key criteria for hosting the event.
A statement from World Rugby read: “The process to identify the host of one of the world’s biggest sporting events kicked off last year and now moves to a key information-gathering stage on the road to confirmation of the host union by the World Rugby Council in November 2017.”
Of the four nations hoping to stage the tournament in seven years time, only Ireland and Italy have never previously been hosts. South Africa held it in 1995 and France in 2007.
Applicants that meet the criteria for evaluation will move to the candidate phase on November 1 before the successful bid is announced in November 2017.
The applicant submissions are to be evaluated by a World Rugby technical review group and the outcome of the evaluation will then be independently assessed to ensure a fair and consistent approach.
The Irish Rugby Football Union confirmed in 2014 they were putting together an all-Ireland bid to stage the tournament, revealing that their plans would be underpinned by the Northern Ireland Executive and Irish Government.
Chief executive Philip Browne said the IRFU and two Irish governments would expect to commit 100 million Euros ($A148 million) to underwrite the possibility of staging the event.
“We are delighted by the strong level of serious interest from unions and governments, which truly underscores the enormous hosting appeal of Rugby World Cup as a low-investment, low-risk, high-return economic, social and sporting driver,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
“Great events are built on strong partnerships and this process represents a major milestone in the planning and preparation phase for unions and supporting government agencies who intend to bid for Rugby World Cup 2023.
“We welcome further dialogue with all parties as the process progresses to the candidate phase and we continue the process to confirm our next host.”
PHIL O'Donovan
Guest
I could not think of a better place to host a World Cup than Ireland.The whole nation would get behind it.Travelling around the country is easy and great fun.If you have ever been to Dublin to watch a International you would vote for Ireland every time.
PHIL O'Donovan
Guest
I was at he match in NZ.If it was not clear at the time,at least to NZ supporters,blind Freddie can see from the footage that it was a seriously dangerous tackle.I do not think the two culprits are by nature dirty players but that was a dirty incident.How the authorities chose to dismiss this beggars belief.I have and still do admire NZ rugby but this cynical incident still leaves a nasty taste.
Derm
Roar Guru
Whatever, Taylorman. Yes I do read and see players no longer playing commenting on World Rugby and its citing inconsistencies. Pretty much every month. I see you're keeping this argument going on 606v2 forum as well. Best of luck.
taylorman
Guest
Except he just did Poth. And he extended it to the country. Sure it may have been deleted but its whats going on in his head. It should stay there. Do you see others from that far out of the scene doing it? And what of the Oz indiscretions of the same test. What of Cheikas bleating re the ref and SANZAR doing nothing about it? Nope, hes gotta make it all about him.
Bakkies
Guest
'3 governments? 2. Republic of Ireland and UK.' You do realise that the UK has devolved parliaments outside England with their own separate elections. In reality it's four separate Governments. Westminster, Ireland, NI Executive and Holyrood (Scotland). 'Err. You think Ireland can match Twickenham, Wembley, Millenium Stadium, Olympic Park or St James Park? Or Soccer City, Ellis Park, Loftus Verfeld?' That didn't stop NZ's bin dipper stadiums knocking out SA in the first round for the 2011 RWC.
Bakkies
Guest
'Being near isn’t enough.to sell.out large numbers of sizeable stadia you need a very large population in the country itself.' Nonsense and stop digging yourself in to a hole. Wembley wouldn't have sold out for Ireland v Romania if it wasn't for the 89,000 Irish in attendance. The neutral and Romanian support was minimal at least. The highest crowd for a provincial match (non club) was at Croke Park for Leinster v Munster.
Bakkies
Guest
Rugby is a commercial business which NZ is slowly getting educated in.
Bakkies
Guest
Well the list of candidates is withering down due to the bid fee. The ARU have stated they can't bid to at least to 2027. This is despite by being a far more suitable host then NZ and Argentina
Bakkies
Guest
'Ozzies, Argies etc had a plethora of choice of cheap one pound tickets as a result all the way through cos the English weren’t interested.' Utter nonsense
Brendon
Guest
"Is world-class stadia defined somewhere? Were the stadia in New Zealand world-class? Or were Sandy Park, or Kingsholm in England?" Err. You think Ireland can match Twickenham, Wembley, Millenium Stadium, Olympic Park or St James Park? Or Soccer City, Ellis Park, Loftus Verfeld? "A joint Ireland/Scotland bid would have involved three different governments underwriting the bid, added a layer of travelling logistics that would undermine the whole point of an-island bid and reduce the commercials underpinning it." 3 governments? 2. Republic of Ireland and UK. The 2015 cricket world cup managed the logistics. the 2002 FIFA world cup managed. The 2007, 1999 and 1991 RWCs managed.
Timbo
Guest
Hi Jake. How did the therapy go to help you through the poms humiliating the Wallabies 3-0 at home and smacking your backsides in the Olympics?
Derm
Roar Guru
Fair enough. But I suspect that NZ fans may think he goes on and on about it, because some of them are a little too precious. The reality is he doesn't. Sure he may get asked about it - by media from all countries - but it's not him raising it. He ended up having banter with Gatland about the Lions selection and not being on the Xmas card list and then publicly sending him one. Fans go on and on about things - including New Zealand ones. No slight is too small to be forgotten for some fans - wherever they come from. Maybe better that everyone just moves on.
taylorman
Guest
Let's hope it doesn't all crumble around them then.
taylorman
Guest
Oh I agree Poth the whole thing has been taken way over the top but the one who seems to like perpetuating the way he is treated is always the man himself. He's also gone on and on about getting dumped in oz, a decision which rightly or wrongly contributed to winning the series. But does BOD take his medicine and accept that things just are what they are? Nope. He goes on this unforgiving crusade every now and then, the kiwi connection too much of a coincidence for him. Life is tough. You take the good with the bad. But not our friend BOD. Others have to be made publicly accountable for his woes on a seemingly continuing basis. Agree it's over the top Poth and it's a pity as I have a lot of respect for the rugby BOD played...very creative and not one to sit on the fence in a playing sense.
Chaz
Guest
taylorman, that is simply not true. I went to the Fiji Uruguay game, which was just 3 days after England were beaten by Australia with a crowd that must have been 95% English and the place was absolutely buzzing- noisy, enthusiastic and good natured. All the knock out stage games were almost entirely sold out and by all accounts the amount of black market tickets was pretty limited, Certainly I saw very little evidence of it- had it been prevalent I'd have gone along. I don't deny that this to a large part was due to the quality of the rugby, but to say that the home rugby fans lost interest after England got knocked out is totally inaccurate. Were you actually in the UK during the RWC- what's your source?
Bakkies
Guest
We will see. The Casement refurbishment may not happen prior to 2023
Bakkies
Guest
Tman, he wasn't a one man team. It takes 22 other players to win a test
taylorman
Guest
Oh yes I see, I mean the ABs regularly rely on invaliding players out of a series to win it don't they. Again, you apply some warped logic to make the shoe fit, and you don't even know you're doing it. You and many before you have talked yourselves into it. If making stuff up is your way of making a point then be my guest. You just look silly. The guys a loser. 14 times in fact. If anything he was saved from four more...that is if he got picked. But anyway, feel free to make things up if it feels better. It is what it is. An unfortunate incident. No more, no less.
Jerry
Guest
Right...so, they deliberately targeted him because he offended them or maybe cause they saw him as a threat. Much more likely than an accidental spear tackle just like the dozens of other accidental spear tackles that occurred that season and in every other season since. Much more likely.
Timbo
Guest
'Ha ha..BOD, a threat? Is that because of all those tests he’s won against us?' In 2005 he would have been considered a threat. He was widely considered the best centre in the world, was the Lion's captain, and the ABs were expecting a tough series. The fact that it didn't pan out that way or that he didn't beat the ABs in the next 10 years is irrelevant to the mind-set of the two ABs. By the way, I just watched Jean De Villiers rate the best 5 centres he ever played against. He put Nonu number 1 but mostly, it seems, from the time when he broke his arm but still gave JdV his shirt in his last game - seems he really liked the bloke. O'Driscoll was number 2 and JdV considers him 'one of the best centres to ever play the game'. But, what does he know about centre play compared to you, mate.