Ireland’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Bid Has Just Received Another Huge Boost
Latest posts by Will Matthews (see all)
- Bad news for Craig Casey and more as Munster Rugby issue squad update - December 16, 2024
- Irish Rugby post cryptic contract signing that has everyone talking - December 15, 2024
- Ireland set to receive massive boost ahead of the Six Nations - December 15, 2024
The 12 stadiums included in Ireland’s Rugby World Cup 2023 bid were officially revealed back in November.
Eight GAA grounds form the bulk of the list alongside famous rugby stadia including Ireland’s national ground, the Aviva Stadium (Dublin) along with Thomond Park (Limerick), Ravenhill (Belfast) and the RDS (Dublin).
Croke Park (Dublin), Pairc Ui Chaoimh (Cork), Casement Park (Belfast), Fitzgerald Stadium (Kerry), Pearse Stadium (Galway), McHale Park (Mayo), Nowlan Park (Kilkenny) and Celtic Park (Derry) are all part of the Board’s proposal.
A decision will be made on the tournament host by World Rugby in November with Ireland locked in a three-way battle. The other two nations hoping to win the right to host the famous tournament are South Africa and France.
Sports Minister Shane Ross back in November said:
“If we win this bid, we’ll be prepared for it. We’re absolutely determined,”
“Hosting the Rugby World Cup here would be a unique opportunity to showcase Ireland, not just to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come for the tournament, but to a worldwide television audience,”
Due to political interference in South Africa and the fact that France staged the tournament in 2007, Ireland is considered to be the front runner as things stand and they have just received another significant boost.
Ireland’s minister for foreign affairs, Charlie Flanagan, met with New Zealand’s foreign minister, Murray McCully, on Wednesday, and it looks like the emerald isle has the backing of the current world champions.
McCully told the Irish Times following that meeting, that while the New Zealand Rugby Union would vote independent of his opinion, he would “report faithfully the glowing credentials that have been outlined to me by my friend today, and I will do my best to ensure that that is fully recognised by the New Zealand Rugby Union when it makes its decision”.
He added: “I have made my position clear. I think that this would be a terrific place to host the Rugby World Cup”
