The IRFU has named the team of bid advisers that they believe will help Ireland win the right to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
Deloitte will be the lead adviser with the Dublin unit backed by strong input from London. That team was heavily involved in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and it was the experience of dealing directly with major sporting events that was key to their and others winning bids to be part of the campaign.
Back in April Sport for Business wrote that “Locally, the big management consultancy practices such as PwC, Accenture and Deloitte may also see themselves as having the capacity and the reach to step up as part of a bid.”
Creative
Irish International, a division of global ad agency BBDO has won the hotly contested bidding to advise on creative aspects of the bid including creating a brand identity that will win over the voting members of the World Rugby Council.
BBDO, again based out of London has been heavily involved in the 2015 and the 2011 Rugby World Cup events.
The third adviser is Seven46, a division of Havas who were behind last year’s One Young World Event in Dublin and which has been involved in the last three successful Olympic Games bidding contests. They will advise on strategic content and messaging behind the bid.
London
Each of the three companies will mainly utilise experience from London offices but will relocate key staff to Dublin for the duration of the bid. Their appointment comes after a lengthy tender process dating back to the spring. The EU wide process, managed by Martin Valentine was required for the first time of the IRFU because of the significant public investment being made in the bid.
The advisers we have selected are world class with massive experience of what it is we need to do,” said Kevin Potts, Chief Operating Officer of the IRFU and the man in charge of coordinating the bid team.
The Oversight Board that will provide strategic guidance and assistance includes Brian O’Driscoll, Hugo MacNeill, Shane Logan of Ulster Rugby and will be chaired by Dick Spring.
“They are all fully committed to the success of the Irish bid and part of one team which we are convinced can deliver a world class tournament.”
“The key work to be done now is convincing those who will end up voting that we can.”
Opposition
Ireland will face strong opposition from South Africa and France, both of whom have already hosted the tournament, and Italy which has experience at national level in hosting Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups.
The team has less than two years to weave whatever magic and detailed logistics planning is required before final presentations to the World Rugby Council and a decision in May 2017.
It will be two years with a lot of changing parts including a new sponsor for the IRFU, a potential new Government in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. There is a lot of confidence behind the bid but it will be far from easy and will require the unequivocal support of the sporting, business and political community.
Sport for Business will provide that in whatever way may be deemed necessary to win what would be the biggest sporting event this country will ever fully host.
