Rugby League World CupThe Rugby League World Cup Trophy made its first appearance in Dublin yesterday as part of a promotional tour ahead of our staging a match in this year’s World Cup tournament in November. It is expected to be a major tourism boost for the Mid West region.
 
Rugby League plays second fiddle to Union here in Ireland but is massive in Australia whose national team will take on Ireland at Thomond Park on Saturday November 9th.
The global TV audience for the clash is expected to be more than 20 million, making it likely to be one of the most important events on the sporting and tourism calendars this year.
Last year’s visit of Notre Dame College Football team produced the biggest hospitality weekend in Dublin for five years and it is expected that the Group stage visit of the Australian national team will bring a huge crowd from across Britain, Europe and Australia to Limerick.
The trophy, the oldest in World Rugby was welcomed to Dublin by Taoiseach Enda Kenny who congratulated all those involved in bringing the game to Ireland.
“This is a great opportunity in the year of the Gathering 2013 to stimulate further international interest in Ireland, and the popularity of the sport in Australia should see Limerick and the Mid West region showcased to a huge audience.”
The 2013 tournament will be contested by 14 teams including Ireland, Australia, England, New Zealand, Samoa, Wales, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Tonga, Cook Islands, Italy and the United States. New Zealand are the defending champions, having defeated Australia in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final.
Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau teamed up with Rugby League Ireland and Thomond Park in July 2011 to launch a successful bid for Limerick’s right to host a game in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
Thomond Park is one of 20 tournament host venues, including Wembley Stadium in London, Old Trafford in Manchester, and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Ireland’s other Group A games are against Fiji in Rochdale on Monday 28th October and against England in Huddersfield on Saturday November 9th.
The official tournament sponsors include Marriott Hotels and Hertz, and the event is being supported by UK National Lottery funding as part of its Gold Event Series.
Irish National LotteryJoin us for our June Sport for Business Members’ Round Table event on the likely impact on sport of changes to the Irish National Lottery.
 
 
 
 
Read more of our recent news and analysis of Major Events in Ireland here.


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