IRELAND HAVE WON the right to host the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017.
The IRFU’s bid, launched in March, was selected by the sport’s governing World Rugby meaning the planet’s best players will be on these shores in just over two years.
Ireland’s bid centred around the use of three locations with the group stages set to take place in University College Dublin with the knock-out stages set to be staged in Belfast.
Ulster’s newly renovated Kingspan Stadium will now host the World Cup final in August 2017, after Queen’s University sets the stage for the semi-finals.
“We’re delighted with today’s announcement” says IRFU chief executive Philip Brown.
“Interest and participation in women’s rugby continues to grow and building this momentum we believe Ireland can deliver the best Women’s World Cup to date.”
Ireland have also lodged a cross-border bid to host the men’s edition of the tournament in 2023, and this smaller scale event will be a chance to prove the island’s suitability for the larger crowds that would visit for RWC 2023.
Ireland Women shocked the rugby world at last year’s tournament held in (French rugby HQ) Marcoussis as Philip Doyle’s side inflicted a second ever defeat on the then reigning champions New Zealand.
Though Doyle’s tenure in charge ended with semi-final defeat to eventual champions England, many core members of his squad remained on when Ireland claimed a second Six Nations Championship in three years under Tom Tierney.
The task for the new head coach and director of rugby Anthony Eddy now, is to continue Ireland’s improvement on the international stage so that they can compete with all comers on home turf.
