Kenny confident Rugby World Cup bid will succeed
December 05, 2014
At the announcement of an All-Ireland bid to stage the 2023 Rugby World Cup. (L-R) Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Philip Browne, Chief Executive, Irish Rugby Football Union, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, Tánaiste Joan Burton, TD, Jordi Murphy and Andrew Trimble.
©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.
Ireland's bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup was officially launched in Armagh city this morning.
The bid was launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. The GAA has agreed to allow use of some of its stadiums for the tournament, with Croke Park viewed as the likely venue for the final and possibly the two semi-finals.
The IRFU, which faces stiff competition from South Africa and Italy to host the tournament, believes the World Cup has the potential to attract more than 350,000 visitors to Ireland in nine years' time.
"I am absolutely confident that Ireland will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup," Kenny said.
"We have the fans, the stadiums and the accessibility to make it a World Cup to remember. Irish people love our sport. We are passionate about sport and celebrate it. We want to share the Irish sporting experience with the world by inviting the world to Ireland."
It is estimated that the bid will cost €1.9 million, while the cost of hosting the tournament would be in the region of €127 million. The winning bid won't be announced until 2017.
Tweet
