|
Rugby World Cup
England and Japan receive RWC boost
Scrum.com
June 30, 2009
The sport's next global showpiece will be held in New Zealand in 2011
© IRB
Enlarge
England and Japan have taken huge steps towards hosting the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cup tournaments respectively after organisers recommended their bids to the International Rugby Board. Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) announced its decision earlier today after an extensive process declaring that both bids achieved, "a balance between funding the global Game and developing new Rugby markets." The IRB Council will make the final decision as to where the tournaments will be held at their meeting in Dublin on July 28. They are not bound by the recommendations but it is widely expected that they will ratify the findings of RWCL who opted for England and Japan ahead of their rivals from South Africa and Italy. In a statement, the tournament organisers indicated that England's commercial power would allow RWCL to maximise their revenues in 2015, which in turn would allow them to take the Rugby World Cup to an emerging nation for the first time four years later. "As the revenue generated from RWC is vital to the IRB's ongoing development plans (there is a preference for it) to be held in one of the major rugby markets on a regular basis," said RWCL chairman Bernard Lapasset. "However, the commercial success of RWC also means we can now consider placing the tournament in developing rugby markets to both reflect and assist the game's continued strategic growth. "It is all about finding the right combination. The IRB Council's decision to award two tournaments simultaneously has assisted in that vision. A tournament in England would allow the IRB to maximise funding available for investment in the game through a strong commercial programme and a great RWC showcase." The 2015 Rugby World Cup would fall in the middle of the so-called 'Decade of Sport', which could see Britain hosting the three biggest sporting events in the world. On the back of the London Olympics, the government believe a successful bid from the RFU would provide the Football Association's campaign to host the 2018 World Cup with a major shot in the arm. "In the heart of the UK's proposed Decade of Sport, RWCL believe the RFU will deliver a RWC that will capture the imagination, attract strong attendances at superb venues and maximise the festival experience for the millions of attending supporters," added Lapasset. "In finalising the recommendation for RWC 2019, the RWCL Board believe a World Cup in Japan would provide a gateway to the further development and expansion of the game in Asia, reaching out to new young fans and providing a superb spectacle for the sport." England would use iconic stadia such as Wembley, Anfield, Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium for the tournament, with the final to be played at Twickenham. "The RFU is delighted that Rugby World Cup Limited has decided to recommend England to the IRB Council as the host for RWC 2015," said RFU chairman Martyn Thomas. "When we presented to the council in May we said that in the current difficult economic environment we could deliver a low-risk, high-return tournament that would leave a lasting legacy for the global game. "We would like to reiterate that commitment and promise that we will pack iconic stadia full of excited fans and that we will give the game the best possible global platform on which to showcase itself to the world. We are truly excited about the opportunity to host the third largest sporting tournament in the world and fervently hope that the recommendation is accepted in July." The British Government has agreed to underwrite part of the £80million tournament fee the RFU would be liable for in 2015 and provide all security outside of the stadia. A recent independent report concluded that hosting a Rugby World Cup was worth £2.1billion to the national economy. Don Foster, spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, said, "This is a major milestone on the journey towards the awarding of the Rugby World Cup 2015. If the IRB picks England to be the host nation at its meeting next month it will be a huge achievement and a real boost for both the sport and the economy. We also have high hopes for the football World Cup 2018 bid. There is a great chance of a decade of world class sport in Britain." RWCL have also indicated a strong preference for all future Rugby World Cups to be staged in one country, "unless compelling reasons can be presented". The RFU are confident that would not affect England's plan to use the Millennium Stadium as there would be no co-hosting arrangement with the Welsh Rugby Union. WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said, "I am confident we can provide compelling reasons why Rugby World Cup games should be held in Wales in 2015. The financial model we have created with the RFU guarantees the success of the 2015 World Cup." Japan want to split one of the 2019 pools between Hong Kong and Singapore with the aim of making the tournament a pan-Asian event, which the IRB are likely to accept as a compelling reason. "The RWCL board believes that a Rugby World Cup in Japan would provide a gateway to the further development and expansion of the game in Asia, reaching out to new young fans and providing a superb spectacle for the sport," added Lapasset. "The JRFU recently hosted a record-breaking IRB Junior World Championship and has demonstrated that it has the ability to deliver an outstanding tournament in 2019. With a 10-year lead time, RWCL and the JRFU would have the time needed to create and develop the framework for an outstanding RWC tournament to provide lasting legacies in Japan and Asia." © Scrum.com
|
| Live Scores |
| Results |
| Fixtures |
