GAA CHIEFS ARE waiting for communication from the IRFU as to what GAA stadia they would like to include as part of a potential bid for Ireland to host the 2023 or 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The GAA’s Congress in Derry last month carried a motion to allow the use of its grounds for an IRFU bid for the prestigious competition.
GAA Director-General Paraic Duffy confirmed yesterday that he spoke to his IRFU counterpart Phillip Browne in the aftermath of that decision.
It is envisaged that the IRFU will look for six GAA stadia as part of their bid. Croke Park will be an automatic inclusion with Casement Park and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, who are both set to undergo refurbishment projects over the next few years, also in line.
Other venues that may be considered include Fitzgerald Stadium, Gaelic Grounds, Pearse Stadium and Elvery’s McHale Park.
Duffy revealed that the ball is now in the court of the IRFU to inform the GAA of what venues they would like to use.
“They have looked at the venues themselves,” said Duffy. “They are probably waiting to find out what the exact tendering process is. They have looked at a lot of our venues and they’ll come back and tell us which ones they want to use.
“They originally talked about six but I don’t know. I think there will be six anyway. They have to come back to us in due course. I briefed Phillip Browne briefly after Congress. They need to know when the process begins and it could be a year or 18 months before that starts.”
