WORLD RUGBY OFFICIALS will next week visit Ireland to meet with representatives from the IRFU and the Government as part of the ongoing bidding process for the 2023 World Cup.
Ireland are vying with France and South Africa to stage the tenth edition of World Rugby’s flagship event with the winner set to be announced in November.
The three candidates are due to submit their detailed bid documents to World Rugby on 1 June and ahead of that deadline, a technical review group will visit each of the three nations over the next month.
The visit will be the final chance for Ireland’s Bid Oversight Board, which is chaired by former Irish international Dick Spring and also includes bid ambassador Brian O’Driscoll, to clarify any questions on the bid process.
World Rugby will spend two days in Ireland (21-22 March) after visiting South Africa this week and then France at the end of the month.
“We have three very strong and passionate candidates vying for selection as host of Rugby World Cup 2023 – all of whom are capable of hosting a fantastic tournament,” World Rugby chairman, Bill Beaumont, said.
“With the support of their respective governments, each candidate is working hard to develop their final submission documents ahead of the June deadline as they seek to bring to life their plans to stage tournaments that will not only be great for rugby but great for their nation. Rugby World Cup has demonstrated through past tournaments that it is a low investment, high-return proposition with proven benefits for host nations.
“The upcoming visits will provide us with an important opportunity to monitor progress leading into the final weeks of the bid phase and we look forward to discovering more details about the compelling concepts of France, Ireland and South Africa later this month.”
All three bids were formally accepted by World Rugby last October with Ireland officially launching their quest to stage a first-ever World Cup last November.
Ireland has previously hosted World Cup games in 1991 and 1999 but has never won the right to stage the tournament outright.
The World Rugby Council will announce the host union for the 2023 World Cup on 15 November.
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