The Cabinet will discuss today whether to formally back a bid by the IRFU to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. It was unlikely that Minister Leo Varadkar would have revealed the possibility were it not to me more of a probability that this support will be forthcoming.
The plans have been in place for over a year with the GAA providing crucial backing in terms of existing stadia and the prospect of an all island bid with the Northern Ireland executive adding considerably to the appeal for organisers of hosting an event that can leave a lasting social as well as financial and reputation legacy.
The next World Cup will take place in England and Wales in 2015. After that it goes to Japan in 2019 and then most likely back to the Northern Hemisphere. South Africa have stated an interest in bidding to repeat their ‘Mandela’ hosting of 1995 but it is likely the bigger threat may come from France.
Ireland hosted games in the World Cup when it was played primarily in England in 1991, beating Japan and Zimbabwe at the old Lansdowne Road stadium in front of crowds of 30,000 and 40,000 before losing by a point to Australia in front of a sell out 54,300.
The Government and the sporting bodies have taken the bidding process very seriously and a Deloitte report backed early assertions that a tournament could have a near €800 million benefit for the economy, attracting over 350,000 visitors.
It is vital to the success of a bid that a continued collaborative approach is maintained. This needs to include local authorities, major businesses, clubs and others who will all have a role to play. Including as many groups as possible at the information stage, if not necessarily at a full consultation level will ensure the best opportunity to make the event the winner it deserves to be.
New Zealand hosted the last World Cup with less infrastructure and greater challenges in terms of travel and logistics. It did lose money on the tournament, posting a final loss of NZ$31.3 million (€19.3 million) but attracted fewer than one third the international visitors that would be expected in Ireland and correspondingly less revenue off a similar capital investment.
There is a government guarantee of revenue to the International Rugby Board required but this should be seen as risk capital in order to generate far more. The figure that would need to be signed off on varies in reports between €90 and €120 million but such a headline figure is just as a backstop and would be taken down with every ticket sold, every sponsorship Euro secured and every broadcast eyeball paid for.
This is a golden opportunity for Ireland to come together in sport and show the world what a might nation we can be. It will consign the dark days of bailouts to a distant memory and needs to be fully supported by all those who have a genuine love of sport whether from the steppings of Hill 16 to the boardrooms of business and the cabinet table at Government.
We should not underestimate the courage of Government in laying down the marker, particularly as there is no guarantee the same people will be in the seat of power when the political benefit is greatest felt.
The Irish Sports Tourism Alliance which was formed earlier this month will meet on November 28th and will have the latest plans for this event high on the agenda to see what can be done to gather momentum from as wide a range of sources as possible.
The GAA and the Northern Executive are two key allies that the IRFU have brought on board already. A roster of Stadia could now include Croke Park, the Aviva Stadium, Ravenhill, Thomond Park, the RDS, Pairc Uí Caoimh, McHale Park, Casement Park and Semple Stadium, and all at once you have a tournament schedule coming into focus.
There are challenges closer to hand for rugby at club and provincial level, never mind on the pitch next Sunday, but the boost this will give to those facing those challenges will have a strong beneficial impact.
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