Ireland’s hopes of staging the 2023 Rugby World Cup Finals received a massive boost yesterday when Italy withdrew from the process.
This leaves a field of three with Ireland going up against France and South Africa. Ireland is the only one of the three, and the only one of the ‘major’ nations in the sport yet to host the finals on their own.
A statement issued by World Rugby “notes the decision by the Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) today to withdraw from the Rugby World Cup 2023 host selection process.”
“While it is disappointing that the FIR feels unable to proceed, World Rugby fully understands the decision and hopes to see Italy join the process for future Rugby World Cup hosting.”
“The host selection process continues with three strong applications currently being evaluated by a World Rugby Technical Review Group. The outcomes of the evaluation will be independently assessed to ensure a fair and consistent approach.”
“Applicants that meet the criteria outlined will move to the candidate phase on 1 November. The Rugby World Cup 2023 host will be selected in November 2017.”
Read more on the value of a successful Rugby World Cup
It is likely that the Italian withdrawal is related to the similar ending of Rome’s bid to stage the 2024 Olympics, expected to be confirmed today.
The City Council meets today, Thursday September 29th to vote on Mayor Virginia Raggi’s motion to withdraw official support.
Ireland’s bid costs are likely to exceed €100 million but evidence from the last World Cup in England last year suggests that the return will exceed this both for the country as a whole and for the sport on both sides of the border.
Ireland’s bid team has been brought together by the IRFU to include representatives of both the Dublin and Stormont Government’s state agencies, the GAA who will provide a number of the stadia and business leaders including Hugo MacNeill of Goldman Sachs.
They are being advised on the bid by Deloitte.
Sir Clive Woodward will be talking about Leadership, the Lions and Winning the World Cup at One Zero, the major new global sports and technology event taking place in Dublin on October 21st. Click here for more information..
