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Philip Browne, Martin McGuinness, Enda Kenny, Peter Robinson and Joan Burton with Andrew Trimble, Paddy Jackson, Robbie Henshaw and Jordi Murphy. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
belief

'This is something we can actually win; this is a bid to win' - Enda Kenny

There was an air of confidence as the IRFU’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup was launched in Armagh.

TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has underlined his firm belief that Ireland will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the formal launch of the IRFU’s bid this morning in Armagh.

The Irish campaign to bring the global tournament to these shores will face competition from South Africa, Italy and Argentina. While concrete details on the stadia to be used in the IRFU bid were not revealed, there was strong confidence the Taoiseach’s speech.

Mr Kenny was joined by Táiniste Joan Burton, First Minister Peter Robinson, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne and IRFU President Louis Magee at the Royal School, as both the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive indicated their strong support for the bid.

“This is something we can actually win; this is a bid to win. It’s in England next year, Japan in 2019, in 2023 it will be Ireland,” said an Taoiseach.

“We’ve had the Tour de France, the Giro, the Open will come back, we’ll have games in the European Championships.

We’re just like New Zealand who hosted in 2011. We are in a similar timezone for the bigger rugby countries and this is an opportunity to prove that the island and its people will respond with a display of passion and exuberance that will prove to the world the kind of people we know we are.

“We’re not just applying, we’re applying to win. This time, we’re world beaters and world leaders. We’ll be with the IRFU every step of the way.”

Here’s all you need to know about Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup bid

Taoiseach Enda Kenny confident over Ireland’s €1.5m Rugby World Cup bid

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