Irish Rugby has completed it’s two day visit from World Rugby during which it had the opportunity to go into detail about the bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023.

During the course of the intensive two-day visit, the group met with President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross and leading figures across Ireland’s sporting and stadium infrastructure communities.

They visited Croke park and the Aviva Stadium to get an insight into the two key stadia that will anchor the bid in Dublin and got to meet three ireland captains Jack Kelly, Rory Best and Niamh Briggs.

They were briefed by senior members of the Irish Civil Service including Martin Fraser, Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, senior members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service including Sir Malcolm McKibbin, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, An Gárda Siochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the IRFU, the GAA and members of the Ireland RWC 2023 Bid Oversight Board.

“The tremendous and detailed work undertaken by all involved in our bid to this point indicates Ireland’s huge desire to host RWC 2023,” said Enda Kenny whose photograph with World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper has the look of a Phoenix Front Cover at some point in the future.

“I know we have the infrastructure and capability to ensure a World Cup that will live long in the memory of all involved. For many years we have attended sports events all over the world and brought our unique colour, passion and friendship. Now we want to bring the world to Ireland.”

Kenny’s and Higgin’s commitment to the project will play well in the campaign to woo the 49 voters who will ultimately decide the fate of the Bid after the final documents are submitted on June 1st and the decision made on November 15th.

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“I must compliment our Bid Director Kevin Potts and his team for a phenomenally powerful programme over the past two days,” said Dick Spring, Chairman of Ireland’s RWC 2023 Oversight Board.

“Having witnessed the quality, depth and professionalism of the 12 separate presentation modules delivered, I can confidently state that Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup is truly world class.”

“Our credentials are compelling across the key areas for the tournament, including commercial success, Government support, iconic stadiums, ticket sales, security, tourism infrastructure and, most importantly, public support from every corner of the island and the global Irish community.

“We can take nothing for granted, in rugby parlance the game has just kicked off. There is still an enormous body of work to be done if we are to succeed in winning this enormous prize for Ireland. The efforts of all involved will continue to reflect this right through to the final whistle on November 15.”

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“Our bid is, and has to be, based on hard facts,” added IRFU CEO Philip Browne.

“The Feasibility Study we conducted some three years ago with the Governments, indicated strongly that Ireland could successfully host a Rugby World Cup. All our research since then shows conclusively that this is the situation and it is around such research that we continue to build Ireland’s case.”

“We are confident that Ireland 2023 will be a tournament like no other, with rugby at the heart of it, full of Irish spirit and commercial success.”

“In addition, we believe the fact that Ireland has not previously hosted a Rugby World Cup is a positive dimension to our bid. It would, if successful, inspire and encourage other rugby unions throughout the world with aspirations to bid in the future, just as we were inspired by New Zealand’s success in hosting the tournament in 2011.”

“Furthermore, Ireland, as a first time host, would enhance the true global nature of rugby in the eyes of the international commercial and sporting world and support the ambition of growing the game across the globe.”