Britain and Ireland 2031.

Having failed to win the hosting rights for 2023, the IRFU is considering joining with England, Wales and Scotland to launch a bid for the 2031 Rugby World Cup.

Talks are underway but a decision is yet to be made but the bid would no doubt make sense for all parties and would be massively welcomed by fans on this side of the world.

Ireland spent considerable money on their 2023 bid, going up against South Africa and France with the French eventually winning the rights.

In a statement to The Guardian, an RFU spokesperson said:

“The four rugby unions of the UK and Ireland are considering the merits of a joint bid to host the (2031) Rugby World Cup,” the statement read.

“Collective discussions with government partners across the UK and Ireland have not yet taken place and a decision on whether to bid has not yet been made.”

But while the IRFU have not ruled out this bid, in a statement released today they made it clear that talks have taken place but are currently “not being progressed.”

“The IRFU wish to clarify that while some preliminary, exploratory discussions took place last autumn with the English, Scottish, and Welsh Unions about a possible joint bid to host Rugby World Cup 2031, the matter is not being progressed at this point in time,” reads a brief statement from the IRFU, via The42.