MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, Tourism & SportLeo Varadkar says he is “very, very confident that Ireland will make a bid” to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Speaking at the IRB World Rugby Conference in Dublin this afternoon, Varadkar said, “It’s something that will involve the IRFU, the government here in the Republic and also the Northern Ireland Executive” but stressed his belief that Ireland will be putting in a formal bid.
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The Minister asserted that this country has the infrastructure to host the Rugby World Cup and admitted that the tournament would be “the biggest thing Ireland could do” in terms of international tournaments. The Olympics and FIFA World Cup would be out of our reach, Varadkar said, but hosting RWC2023 is feasible.
It would engender enormous national pride. Rugby in Ireland has always been a unifying force. The IRFU wasn’t partitioned when the country split and rugby has always been supported by people who are Catholic and people who are Protestants and people who are neither of these.
“Even during difficult times, the Troubles, rugby was a unifying force. One thing I remember very much was when rugby was played for the very first time in Croke Park, the main national GAA stadium. They have already expressed their support for a bid.
“We had the first time England played Ireland in Croke Park [in 2007] and people were worried about what would happen, but the national anthem [England's] was applauded. I think the World Cup would be a symbol of how far we have come.”
A study by consultant firm Deloitte has raised hopes that a bid is realistic, after claiming that it would be viable to have a cross-border bid and that it could result in a €800 million boost to Ireland’s economy. Varadkar is sure that Ireland has the infrastructure to host the tournament.
“I’m in a very fortunate department in that sense with Transport, Tourism and Sport. I think you need all three of those aspects. We definitely have the transport with the airports and the roads. We definitely have the tourist infrastructure. A lot of hotels were built during the boom, so we have plenty of accommodation. Seriously, we’re very keen to fill those up in September/October time.
We have great tourist attractions too. On the stadia, we’re there or thereabouts. We couldn’t do it without the GAA, so the fact that they’ve expressed their support is great. Some stadiums would need investment, and some of that investment is underway. There would be more investment required, particularly in media facilities.”
If Ireland is to successfully bid, Varadkar feels there can be a genuine legacy left by the Rugby World Cup.
“I’m by no means taking anything for granted, but the legacy would be in bringing the country together. This year in Ireland was the year of The Gathering and it really got people coming together. We had something similar with the Special Olympics a number of years ago.”
As much as I would love to see Ireland host the WRC. I’d rather it went to a developing rugby nation to build the sport. I complained when New Zealand won the chance to host it over Japan and I guess one should stick to their principals on the matter, regardless of their own nationality.
Dee, firstly my point was that I was ercked when NZ received the WRC before Japan and also England will host it before them. Secondly that’s one nation, of the expanding nations. What about the US, Canada, Russia, Georgia and even Portugal. Why keep passing this around to the old boys of the rugby fraternity. Rugby has grown to be an all inclusive sport, no matter your sex or sexuality. Why cripple it’s expansion keeping its show piece between a hand full of nations?
As one of the ‘old boys’ We’ve never hosted it, so really as a long standing and loyal country to the game, shouldn’t we get our chance over some up and coming nation that really doesn’t care as much? Ireland first, development of rugby second as far as I’m concerned.
John,
Im guessing here. Doubt very much if the emerging nations you mention have the stadiums or home interest to be able to host.
Take a look at some of the european nations eg Holland and Germany I played against club teams from both in the seventies and there were a number of clubs and pretty wide interest but I don’t believe they have anywhere to suit International games of World Cup standard
With the competition rotating between Northern and Southern Hemisphere every four years the support structure to host the games just didn’t appear to be there for 2011 in Japan, if you look at the bid/decision there were some fundamental elements that needed work and Japan are working hard to develop and establish these for 2019. I think the evidence shows that rather than going to ‘the old boys club’ they took the very sensible move of postponing Japan hosting until 2019 to give the best possible chance of a positive impact and reputation for the Japanese and for RWC2019. With 2023 being the next possible northern hemisphere RWC all of the emerging nations that you mentioned are in the northern hemisphere so they too are welcome to put in a bid but honestly how many of them do you think will. Realistically they can’t win if they aren’t in, I would expect to see a French, Irish, possible combined Scottish/ Welsh (although the Welsh and Millennium are hosting for some of 2015) and maybe an Italian/Spanish bid but that’s about it. Why not put our names in the hat?
Do you not think Japan has hosted enough tournaments? Winter Olympics, summer Olympics and soccer World Cup? Ireland got to host a game or two in a previous rugby World Cup but that hardly counts in the same way. I’m really finding it hard to see your point of view on this one.
Would love to see this happen, but Croke Park, Aviva, Thomand, Casement Belfast are ok leaving a requirement for 8 more stadiums – where do we get those?
A lot of New Zealand’s stadiums aren’t that big. The Westpac in Wellington holds approx 37,000 and Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth holds 30,000 and 21,000 when we played the USA there. We shouldn’t have too much of an issue if we can get the GAA involved to use some of theirs, not just Croke Park. (Used to live up the road from Yarrow Stadium and it’s pretty small)
USA / Canada would be awful. WAY too much area. Even in NZ there were tight timelines getting to matches and I admit don’t have a clue how much bigger USA / Canada are. Plus the general population probably wouldn’t have a clue it was even on – in the US anyway.
I guess he has extensive knowledge of every rugby 10 to 25 year old rugby player in the world, predicted their lifestyles and rugby progression over the next 10 years and worked out exact odds of which team will win.
Eh no. We’ve done better than in soccer, but with much much fewer rugby nations in the world. If the popularity of the sport doesn’t matter, compromise rules is more successful.
(I’m only arguing cos it bugs the crap out of me when people make a statement and then follow it with “Fact.”)
Well it’ll make a change from the Engish soccer spoofers in this country banging on about “their” team e.g. ‘ didn’t ” we” really stuck it to those Scousers last night’, or ‘ I love it when “we” beat those Manc sc*m’ or ‘ I think “we” are the best team in London’. Bandwagon spoofers.
Or how about nonsense like ” munster by the grace of god” and the ” docker and the doctor”absolute horseshit.anyway a rugger fan using the bandwagon term.hilarious.the ironing is delicious
Irony is lost on Oirish bandwagoners of English chavball. teams.Every gligeen in this country who calls himself a “fan” of a British soccer brand is a bandwaggoner. Usually a very stupid, impressionable, and shameless bandwaggoner at that. The British brands are laughing all the way to the bank when Paddy buys their tat and flys over to the matches to see “their” British brand.
Looks like frank is under the mistaken impression that im a fan of the premiership and while i detest everything that english soccer has become i realise that there is a history over here of people showing an interest in an english team unlike in rugby where the marketing men have managed to con a few hundred thousand gullible paddies that this travesty of a sport,tug of war without the rope is their one true passion.that is all
You’ll be telling us next that you’re a hardcore League of Ireland fan, Paul and not some thick Paddy filling the coffers of a British chavball brand. Since when did this history of Paddy being an English chavball” fan” begin anyway? The 1970′s when MOTD was first to be seen over here. and Paddy latched on to whoever was winning the Englsih soccer league at the time? Oh Christ it’s in our national DNA, like Eastenders and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.LOL.
Kevin, in what way would hosting the RWC be a “waste of money”? Can you point me to your statistical proof? Wouldn’t preparation for such an event constitute much-needed economic activity (stadium-upgrades, roads, services for supporters?) through employment and resultant spending?
A Universal World Cup Charge would prob do it
We don’t seem to worry too much about paying the USC or Property tax or Water tax.
They can just add it on.
And how exactly would the money be wasted? Even if we only get 5000 extra tourists coming staying only in b&b that is close to 7 million on accommodation alone… And realistically we will get 35000 spending at least 200 a day for at least 7 days each
I found this online
If the World Cup was to go ahead in Ireland in 2023 there are probably 2 scenarios on how the Rugby World Cup might look. The first Rugby World Cup would be an All-Ireland World Cup where all games are played in Ireland. The second scenario would be to use 10 stadiums in Ireland with the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Murrayfield in Edinburgh. I think the second scenario will probably be used by the IRFU as them have only named 6 GAA stadiums that they would like to use and I can only think of 4 possible rugby stadiums that could be used.
The four rugby stadiums would probably be Aviva Stadium, Thomond Park, Ravenhill Stadium and RDS Arena. The 6 GAA Stadiums named are Croke Park Dublin, Pairc Ui Chaoimh Cork, Casement Park Belfast, Gaelic Grounds Limerick, Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney and Pearse Stadium Galway.
The other 2 stadiums I picked to make up the numbers to 12 stadiums are McHale Park in Castlebar and Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. But these 2 stadiums could be replaced by any other 2 suitable stadiums as long as the capacity is greater than 15,000 (minimum capacity used in New Zealand).
The second scenario would have all the same stadiums except Millennium stadium and Murrayfield would be used instead of McHale Park and Nowlan Park. The same format would probably be used as the World Cup in France in 2007 where Murrayfield got 2 pool games and Millennium Stadium got 3 pool games and a quarterfinal.
The following 12 stadiums could be used for the tournament:
Croke Park (82,300) – 7 games
Aviva Stadium (51,700) – 7 games
Pairc Ui Chaoimh (45,000) – 5 games
Casement Park (40,000) – 5 games
Thomond Park (26,500) – 4 games
Fitzgerald Stadium (43,000) – 4 games
Pearse Stadium (36,000) – 4 games
Gaelic Ground (49,500) – 3 games
Ravenhill Stadium (18,000) – 3 games
RDS Arena (18,500) – 2 games
McHale Park (42,000) – 2 games
Nowlan Park (30,000) – 2 games
I have given Croke Park and Aviva Stadium only 7 games each. This was done to spread the pool matches around the country and gives the pitches a chance to recover for the semi finals and finals. I also gave Thomond Park 4 games and Gaelic Grounds 3 games. I think 7 games is enough games for Limerick to cope with and since Thomond Park is the home of Munster rugby I gave it the extra game. I may be lower capacity but Thomond Park is a globally famous rugby playing sports field and deserves it on that basis.
To allow for the GAA All-Ireland football final to be played on the 3rd Sunday in September the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup would be held as normal the Friday. It only takes Croke Park 24 hours to convert the rugby pitch back to a Gaelic football pitch, allowing for the All-Ireland football final to take place that Sunday. There would be no rugby games played in Dublin that Sunday to overcrowding in the capital.
If we use the same groups as the 2011 World Cup and start the tournament on Friday the 15th September 2023 this is how the tournament might look:
Pool A:
Australia
Ireland
Italy
USA
Russia
Sep 15 Ireland v USA………………….Croke Park
Sep 16 Australia v Italy……………….Pearse Stadium
Sep 20 Russia v USA…………………..McHale Park
Sep 22 Australia v Ireland……………Croke Park
Sep 24 Italy v Russia………………….RDS Arena
Sep 27 Australia v USA……………….Fitzgerald Stadium
Sep 30 Ireland v Russia………………Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Oct 3 Italy v USA………………………Gaelic Grounds
Oct 7 Australia v Russia………………Ravenhill Stadium
Oct 8 Ireland v Italy…………………..Aviva Stadium
Pool B:
England
Argentina
Scotland
Georgia
Romania
Sep 16 Scotland v Romania……………Thomond Park
Sep 16 England v Argentina……………Aviva Stadium
Sep 20 Scotland v Georgia……………..Gaelic Grounds
Sep 23 Argentina v Romania……………Fitzgerald Stadium
Sep 24 England v Georgia………………Casement Park
Sep 30 England v Romania……………..Thomond Park
Oct 1 Argentina v Scotland………………Aviva Stadium
Oct 4 Georgia v Romania………………..McHale Park
Oct 7 England v Scotland………………..Croke Park
Oct 8 Argentina v Georgia……………….Pearse Stadium
Pool C:
New Zealand
France
Tonga
Canada
Japan
Sep 17 New Zealand v Tonga……………Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Sep 17 France v Japan…………………….Casement Park
Sep 21 Tonga v Canada…………………..Nowlan Park
Sep 23 New Zealand v Japan…………….Casement Park
Sep 26 France v Canada………………….Pearse Stadium
Sep 29 Tonga v Japan…………………….Ravenhill Stadium
Oct 1 New Zealand v France…………….Croke Park
Oct 3 Canada v Japan……………………..Nowlan Park
Oct 7 France v Tonga……………………..Thomond Park
Oct 8 New Zealand v Canada……………Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Pool D:
South Africa
Wales
Samoa
Fiji
Namibia
Sep 16 Fiji v Namibia……………………..Fitzgerald Stadium
Sep 17 South Africa v Wales……………Aviva Stadium
Sep 20 Samoa v Namibia………………..RDS Arena
Sep 23 South Africa v Fiji………………..Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Sep 24 Wales v Samoa…………………..Thomond Park
Sep 28 South Africa v Namibia…………Gaelic Grounds
Oct 1 Fiji v Samoa…………………………Ravenhill Stadium
Oct 2 Wales v Namibia…………………..Pearse Stadium
Oct 6 South Africa v Samoa…………….Fitzgerald Stadium
Oct 8 Wales v Fiji…………………………Casement Park
Quarter Finals:
Oct 14 New Zealand v Argentina………….Pairc Ui Chaiomh
Oct 14 England v France………………….Aviva Stadium
Oct 15 Australia v South Africa………….Casement Park
Oct 15 Ireland v Wales……………………Croke Park
Semi Finals:
Oct 21 Ireland v France…………………….Croke Park
Oct 22 New Zealand v Australia…………Aviva Stadium
3rd/4th Place Play-off:
Oct 27 France v Australia…………………Aviva Stadium
Rugby World Cup Final:
Oct 29 Ireland v New Zealand……………Croke Park
The only thing he typed himself was the opening sentence “I found this online” so if you missed that glaringly obvious detail whatever “slight mistake” he made must be very slight indeed.
Contrary to some peoples opinions…It is a distinct possibility we could win the right to host the WC.We could even have a fair chance at winning the WC. What you can be sure of is that already those in the know are preparing to do what they do best….make as much money as possible out of this event and screw the morality of the methods used to do so.Every brother-in -law,cousin ….pet rabbit …anything that can be used to ‘prove’ , that ‘they’ had nothing to do with the profiteering.For that reason alone,I hope we do not get to host the WC…..ever.
Sure hatch a plan and make a few quid selling T shirts yourself Cy and maybe you might see the positives of 350,000 people coming to the country for a world event. Should we just crawl into a hole and never want to acheive anything again because of our past mistakes.
Did you just read the headline? It clearly says in the article that the tournament would GENERATE over €800M revenue for the country. So wouldn’t that help our broke state? Plus it’s 10 years away!
Ryan, New Zealand lost 30 million on the last rugby World Cup. The RFU pocketed millions as tournament owners and organisers, but the host country loses money. You will hear all the usual rubbish about all the money we would make but it’s all false. Check it out if you wish.
The RFU run rugby in England, the IRB is the world governing body. If you knew that much I may start to believe you.
Who in New Zealand lost this 30million? 30million what? Euros? Grapes?
The NZRU may have lost in the short term. There is no doubt that the country and the country’s economy would have benefitted in the long term.
According to Wikipedia the 2011 World Cup cost NZ$310,000,000 to run, ticket sales earned NZ$280,000,000 (maybe where you got your 30million figure, so roughly €18.5million), accommodation, food and drink earnings were NZ$496,000,000. So the minimum the nation earned was NZ$466millon.
Letting your negativity get the better of yourself there I fear.
What does hosting the Rugby World Cup (RWC) in ten years have to do with healthcare investment except maybe spark investment in A&E in a regional hotel near a host venue?
Any stadiums used are already developed, are in the process of redevelopment or are already allocated funds for redevelopment. How does that affect healthcare?
Our road and rail network would be developed in time for the RWC, is that a bad thing? Plans for that have already been laid out and I would imagine funding would be through a national infrastructure plan, not healthcare. I would think that an improved communication network would benefit healthcare.
The financial benefit of hosting the RWC has been estimated at at least €800million, do you think that investment would be bad for healthcare or do you think Deloitte are wrong, do you know better than them? 130,000 people visited New Zealand in 2011, I would imagine we’d get 4-5times that amount, those bloody tourist will certainly go on a rampage through our hospitals!
Host the rugby World Cup???? We can’t afford to give medical cards to sick children let alone afford to host this event, don’t waste another red cent on this Leo
Agree 100 % Danny. I think we would be better off to bid for the Gathering in 2023 , although by then Australia might outbid us given the continued success of the Scattering ( currently sponsored by FG/LAB) !
Investment wouldn’t be huge. Casement park and pairc ui chaoimh are already going to be redeveloped by the GAA. So Croker, Aviva, RDS, Thomond, Ravenhill,Casement,pairc ui chaoimh, Sportsground. That is 8 decent enough stadiums and many of them bigger and better than in NZ. We have much more hotels and tourist infrastructure than NZ as it is. Really the cost wouldn’t be huge and we would have a decade to prepare.
It would bring in lots of tourists and if it was done well it would raise the profile or Ireland a lot. I’m sure the UK would chuck in a nice bit of change for Ravenhill if the bid was successful. Got to love a bit of cross-border economic co-operation.
The Gaelic Grounds, Semple Stadium, a plethora of country grounds such as St Tiernach’s Park and a redeveloped Musgrave Park could be also be used. With a little investment we could have to stadia to make a serious bid.
A lot of the complainers here sound similar to those in the UK re the Olympics which was a huge success. Not as big as it could have been mistakes were made ( which Ireland could learn from) but it was a great boost for tourism (concentrated unfortunately on London) and gave the country a sense of pride and success.
Does anyone seriously think that Ireland couldn’t pull off the same.
And yes I can imagine the UK sports minister pulling a couple of quid out of his pocket for Ravenhill.
How many UK (English, Welsh, Scottish) rugby fans do you think would come over? Although we’ll need to instigate controls to keep the Rugby League crowd out.
do we have a rail link to Dublin airport Mr varadker or how about the appalling gaa grounds apart from croke park or the appalling cork to limerick road
Why would we need a rail link to Dublin airport? I mean it would be nice and all but it isn’t needed. The port tunnel means aircoach have you into the city centre in around 15 minutes.
we do need a rail link to Dublin airport,should we scrap the luas cross city project too!rip up the dart lines too!I know let’s just have a bus based solution for Dublin privatized of course!!!!Dublin has the worst transport system in the eu
Again could you give a reason why we desperately need a rail link to Dublin airport. Is their a cost/benefit analysis you could point be in the direction of? A national development plan or consultants report?
It’s just with the port tunnel and frequent and affordable coach services we have a pretty good way to get into the city centre. If we wanted to spend money on the rail network less flashy things like improved signalling would be great. Irish trains are slower than those in the UK or Europe at the moment.
I just don’t see any compelling reason to build a rail link and you have provided nothing at all.
Great idea. As long as it is not another begging-bowl event- like the proposed all-Ireland -v- England soccer match! And the car-park and tuck-shop takings don’t go to some HSE big-wig or other to make up their pay.
Just a small thought. If games were played in GAA stadiums, that might generate interest in GAA particularly football, within visitors from UK.
This could increase interest in GAA in the UK.
Is there another sport in the world would allow there stadia be used by another sport, during there own peak season. Not a chance in hell. So why would the Gaa sanction this? Me thinks there is more to this than meets the eye. I would not be surprised if the grassroots decided enough is enough and reversed the congress decision when they finally realise how badly they will be affected. No matches in Croke park, Pairc ui Caoimh, Plus another one or two grounds for the entire month of June. Really it’s madness on the Gaa’s part, could not see Man U or Liverpool giving up there stadia for a month in the middle of there seasons, or as I said any other sport. Remarkable decision by the GAA delegates, but would expect it too be challenged.
Games in the 2015 RWC are being played at (amongst others) City of Manchester Stadium , Villa Park , Elland Road during September and October 2015, Joe.
Is the Rugby World Cup not held around September/October time? There would only be club games going on in Pairc Ui Caoimh. I am sure they could be accommodated in Pairc ui Rinn.
The only reason the GAA might not want to be sound and co-operate is the fact it would be such a boost for Rugby in Ireland – a generation of youngsters with dreams of playing rugby not football/hurling
Also for the many many people who commented that don’t understand economics – hosting the RWC would be a huge benefit to the Irish economy
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Please please please please PLEASE, do this : )
As much as I would love to see Ireland host the WRC. I’d rather it went to a developing rugby nation to build the sport. I complained when New Zealand won the chance to host it over Japan and I guess one should stick to their principals on the matter, regardless of their own nationality.
Its a good argument, and I agree but my rebuttal would be ‘ COME ON’.
But what has the minister for sport have to say on it??
With Japan confirmed as host nation for 2019 I think your position is a little redundant now.
Dee, firstly my point was that I was ercked when NZ received the WRC before Japan and also England will host it before them. Secondly that’s one nation, of the expanding nations. What about the US, Canada, Russia, Georgia and even Portugal. Why keep passing this around to the old boys of the rugby fraternity. Rugby has grown to be an all inclusive sport, no matter your sex or sexuality. Why cripple it’s expansion keeping its show piece between a hand full of nations?
As one of the ‘old boys’ We’ve never hosted it, so really as a long standing and loyal country to the game, shouldn’t we get our chance over some up and coming nation that really doesn’t care as much? Ireland first, development of rugby second as far as I’m concerned.
We part hosted it in 1991, when lost the quarter final to Australia 19-18, at Lansdowne. So we have had our chance.
John,
Im guessing here. Doubt very much if the emerging nations you mention have the stadiums or home interest to be able to host.
Take a look at some of the european nations eg Holland and Germany I played against club teams from both in the seventies and there were a number of clubs and pretty wide interest but I don’t believe they have anywhere to suit International games of World Cup standard
With the competition rotating between Northern and Southern Hemisphere every four years the support structure to host the games just didn’t appear to be there for 2011 in Japan, if you look at the bid/decision there were some fundamental elements that needed work and Japan are working hard to develop and establish these for 2019. I think the evidence shows that rather than going to ‘the old boys club’ they took the very sensible move of postponing Japan hosting until 2019 to give the best possible chance of a positive impact and reputation for the Japanese and for RWC2019. With 2023 being the next possible northern hemisphere RWC all of the emerging nations that you mentioned are in the northern hemisphere so they too are welcome to put in a bid but honestly how many of them do you think will. Realistically they can’t win if they aren’t in, I would expect to see a French, Irish, possible combined Scottish/ Welsh (although the Welsh and Millennium are hosting for some of 2015) and maybe an Italian/Spanish bid but that’s about it. Why not put our names in the hat?
Do you not think Japan has hosted enough tournaments? Winter Olympics, summer Olympics and soccer World Cup? Ireland got to host a game or two in a previous rugby World Cup but that hardly counts in the same way. I’m really finding it hard to see your point of view on this one.
using the cross-border-united team-bringing both sides of the divide together- angle could succeed ,no harm in ‘TRY’ing good luck i say
Screw all you nay sayers. Ireland could host it and it would be brilliant.
Well said JT, well said
Would love to see this happen, but Croke Park, Aviva, Thomand, Casement Belfast are ok leaving a requirement for 8 more stadiums – where do we get those?
A lot of New Zealand’s stadiums aren’t that big. The Westpac in Wellington holds approx 37,000 and Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth holds 30,000 and 21,000 when we played the USA there. We shouldn’t have too much of an issue if we can get the GAA involved to use some of theirs, not just Croke Park. (Used to live up the road from Yarrow Stadium and it’s pretty small)
Not much competition for it really.USA/CANADA joint bid only real challenge .Bring it on,
USA / Canada would be awful. WAY too much area. Even in NZ there were tight timelines getting to matches and I admit don’t have a clue how much bigger USA / Canada are. Plus the general population probably wouldn’t have a clue it was even on – in the US anyway.
Ireland has a better chance of winning the RWC 2023 than we have of hosting it…
Excellent attitude, you’re right.
We can WIN!!
And why exactly do you think that Dermot?
I guess he has extensive knowledge of every rugby 10 to 25 year old rugby player in the world, predicted their lifestyles and rugby progression over the next 10 years and worked out exact odds of which team will win.
Oh sweet jesus no.not another ten years of the rugby spoofers spouting their inane bullshit.
Rugby is Ireland’s most successful field sport on an international stage. Fact
Eh no. We’ve done better than in soccer, but with much much fewer rugby nations in the world. If the popularity of the sport doesn’t matter, compromise rules is more successful.
(I’m only arguing cos it bugs the crap out of me when people make a statement and then follow it with “Fact.”)
Well it’ll make a change from the Engish soccer spoofers in this country banging on about “their” team e.g. ‘ didn’t ” we” really stuck it to those Scousers last night’, or ‘ I love it when “we” beat those Manc sc*m’ or ‘ I think “we” are the best team in London’. Bandwagon spoofers.
Or how about nonsense like ” munster by the grace of god” and the ” docker and the doctor”absolute horseshit.anyway a rugger fan using the bandwagon term.hilarious.the ironing is delicious
in that case Shane, leave the ironing to the missus…
*Paul
Irony is lost on Oirish bandwagoners of English chavball. teams.Every gligeen in this country who calls himself a “fan” of a British soccer brand is a bandwaggoner. Usually a very stupid, impressionable, and shameless bandwaggoner at that. The British brands are laughing all the way to the bank when Paddy buys their tat and flys over to the matches to see “their” British brand.
I bet you’re mad craic!
Looks like frank is under the mistaken impression that im a fan of the premiership and while i detest everything that english soccer has become i realise that there is a history over here of people showing an interest in an english team unlike in rugby where the marketing men have managed to con a few hundred thousand gullible paddies that this travesty of a sport,tug of war without the rope is their one true passion.that is all
You’ll be telling us next that you’re a hardcore League of Ireland fan, Paul and not some thick Paddy filling the coffers of a British chavball brand. Since when did this history of Paddy being an English chavball” fan” begin anyway? The 1970′s when MOTD was first to be seen over here. and Paddy latched on to whoever was winning the Englsih soccer league at the time? Oh Christ it’s in our national DNA, like Eastenders and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.LOL.
We would be well capable of holding it.
The financial and ‘brand Ireland’ benefits would be fantastic.
Win or lose, this is a fabulous PR kite for the Government to fly and distract us from the dire ongoing economic & bankruptcy issues.
The country is indebted to the eyeballs and we want to waste money on this.
Kevin, in what way would hosting the RWC be a “waste of money”? Can you point me to your statistical proof? Wouldn’t preparation for such an event constitute much-needed economic activity (stadium-upgrades, roads, services for supporters?) through employment and resultant spending?
For those with the patience to read an economic report you can see the economic benefit hosting the RWC brought to New Zealand in 2011, which was right in the depth of the Global Economic slow-down here: http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/NationalAccounts/impact-of-rugby-world-cup.aspx
A Universal World Cup Charge would prob do it
We don’t seem to worry too much about paying the USC or Property tax or Water tax.
They can just add it on.
And how exactly would the money be wasted? Even if we only get 5000 extra tourists coming staying only in b&b that is close to 7 million on accommodation alone… And realistically we will get 35000 spending at least 200 a day for at least 7 days each
I found this online
If the World Cup was to go ahead in Ireland in 2023 there are probably 2 scenarios on how the Rugby World Cup might look. The first Rugby World Cup would be an All-Ireland World Cup where all games are played in Ireland. The second scenario would be to use 10 stadiums in Ireland with the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Murrayfield in Edinburgh. I think the second scenario will probably be used by the IRFU as them have only named 6 GAA stadiums that they would like to use and I can only think of 4 possible rugby stadiums that could be used.
The four rugby stadiums would probably be Aviva Stadium, Thomond Park, Ravenhill Stadium and RDS Arena. The 6 GAA Stadiums named are Croke Park Dublin, Pairc Ui Chaoimh Cork, Casement Park Belfast, Gaelic Grounds Limerick, Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney and Pearse Stadium Galway.
The other 2 stadiums I picked to make up the numbers to 12 stadiums are McHale Park in Castlebar and Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. But these 2 stadiums could be replaced by any other 2 suitable stadiums as long as the capacity is greater than 15,000 (minimum capacity used in New Zealand).
The second scenario would have all the same stadiums except Millennium stadium and Murrayfield would be used instead of McHale Park and Nowlan Park. The same format would probably be used as the World Cup in France in 2007 where Murrayfield got 2 pool games and Millennium Stadium got 3 pool games and a quarterfinal.
The following 12 stadiums could be used for the tournament:
Croke Park (82,300) – 7 games
Aviva Stadium (51,700) – 7 games
Pairc Ui Chaoimh (45,000) – 5 games
Casement Park (40,000) – 5 games
Thomond Park (26,500) – 4 games
Fitzgerald Stadium (43,000) – 4 games
Pearse Stadium (36,000) – 4 games
Gaelic Ground (49,500) – 3 games
Ravenhill Stadium (18,000) – 3 games
RDS Arena (18,500) – 2 games
McHale Park (42,000) – 2 games
Nowlan Park (30,000) – 2 games
I have given Croke Park and Aviva Stadium only 7 games each. This was done to spread the pool matches around the country and gives the pitches a chance to recover for the semi finals and finals. I also gave Thomond Park 4 games and Gaelic Grounds 3 games. I think 7 games is enough games for Limerick to cope with and since Thomond Park is the home of Munster rugby I gave it the extra game. I may be lower capacity but Thomond Park is a globally famous rugby playing sports field and deserves it on that basis.
To allow for the GAA All-Ireland football final to be played on the 3rd Sunday in September the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup would be held as normal the Friday. It only takes Croke Park 24 hours to convert the rugby pitch back to a Gaelic football pitch, allowing for the All-Ireland football final to take place that Sunday. There would be no rugby games played in Dublin that Sunday to overcrowding in the capital.
If we use the same groups as the 2011 World Cup and start the tournament on Friday the 15th September 2023 this is how the tournament might look:
Pool A:
Australia
Ireland
Italy
USA
Russia
Sep 15 Ireland v USA………………….Croke Park
Sep 16 Australia v Italy……………….Pearse Stadium
Sep 20 Russia v USA…………………..McHale Park
Sep 22 Australia v Ireland……………Croke Park
Sep 24 Italy v Russia………………….RDS Arena
Sep 27 Australia v USA……………….Fitzgerald Stadium
Sep 30 Ireland v Russia………………Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Oct 3 Italy v USA………………………Gaelic Grounds
Oct 7 Australia v Russia………………Ravenhill Stadium
Oct 8 Ireland v Italy…………………..Aviva Stadium
Pool B:
England
Argentina
Scotland
Georgia
Romania
Sep 16 Scotland v Romania……………Thomond Park
Sep 16 England v Argentina……………Aviva Stadium
Sep 20 Scotland v Georgia……………..Gaelic Grounds
Sep 23 Argentina v Romania……………Fitzgerald Stadium
Sep 24 England v Georgia………………Casement Park
Sep 30 England v Romania……………..Thomond Park
Oct 1 Argentina v Scotland………………Aviva Stadium
Oct 4 Georgia v Romania………………..McHale Park
Oct 7 England v Scotland………………..Croke Park
Oct 8 Argentina v Georgia……………….Pearse Stadium
Pool C:
New Zealand
France
Tonga
Canada
Japan
Sep 17 New Zealand v Tonga……………Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Sep 17 France v Japan…………………….Casement Park
Sep 21 Tonga v Canada…………………..Nowlan Park
Sep 23 New Zealand v Japan…………….Casement Park
Sep 26 France v Canada………………….Pearse Stadium
Sep 29 Tonga v Japan…………………….Ravenhill Stadium
Oct 1 New Zealand v France…………….Croke Park
Oct 3 Canada v Japan……………………..Nowlan Park
Oct 7 France v Tonga……………………..Thomond Park
Oct 8 New Zealand v Canada……………Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Pool D:
South Africa
Wales
Samoa
Fiji
Namibia
Sep 16 Fiji v Namibia……………………..Fitzgerald Stadium
Sep 17 South Africa v Wales……………Aviva Stadium
Sep 20 Samoa v Namibia………………..RDS Arena
Sep 23 South Africa v Fiji………………..Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Sep 24 Wales v Samoa…………………..Thomond Park
Sep 28 South Africa v Namibia…………Gaelic Grounds
Oct 1 Fiji v Samoa…………………………Ravenhill Stadium
Oct 2 Wales v Namibia…………………..Pearse Stadium
Oct 6 South Africa v Samoa…………….Fitzgerald Stadium
Oct 8 Wales v Fiji…………………………Casement Park
Quarter Finals:
Oct 14 New Zealand v Argentina………….Pairc Ui Chaiomh
Oct 14 England v France………………….Aviva Stadium
Oct 15 Australia v South Africa………….Casement Park
Oct 15 Ireland v Wales……………………Croke Park
Semi Finals:
Oct 21 Ireland v France…………………….Croke Park
Oct 22 New Zealand v Australia…………Aviva Stadium
3rd/4th Place Play-off:
Oct 27 France v Australia…………………Aviva Stadium
Rugby World Cup Final:
Oct 29 Ireland v New Zealand……………Croke Park
You have way to much time on your hands….oh by the way slight mistake in your little post there.
The only thing he typed himself was the opening sentence “I found this online” so if you missed that glaringly obvious detail whatever “slight mistake” he made must be very slight indeed.
Thanks, People can read at times!
Cy hendrix, ‘way too much’, not ‘way to much’…a slight mistake in your little post there.
Dude to much information
It would be great to see the rugby World Cup final in Croke park
Anything is possible with the great Enda kenny in charge
For some reason the Muppets theme tune is in my head now.
Is it April the 1st today are what
No November 18???
Oh wait, I get it now…
Contrary to some peoples opinions…It is a distinct possibility we could win the right to host the WC.We could even have a fair chance at winning the WC. What you can be sure of is that already those in the know are preparing to do what they do best….make as much money as possible out of this event and screw the morality of the methods used to do so.Every brother-in -law,cousin ….pet rabbit …anything that can be used to ‘prove’ , that ‘they’ had nothing to do with the profiteering.For that reason alone,I hope we do not get to host the WC…..ever.
You must be the life and soul of ALL the parties you go to.
Sure hatch a plan and make a few quid selling T shirts yourself Cy and maybe you might see the positives of 350,000 people coming to the country for a world event. Should we just crawl into a hole and never want to acheive anything again because of our past mistakes.
Cy, you are so right!!
sure aren’t Ryanair after putting up the fares already!!!!
…….please get a grip!!!!
Varadkar is clearly from the Gay Mitchell Olympic wing of FG!
Maybe if they don’t find out we’re flat broke, we’ve got some chance.
Did you just read the headline? It clearly says in the article that the tournament would GENERATE over €800M revenue for the country. So wouldn’t that help our broke state? Plus it’s 10 years away!
Please please please please allocate the money to anyone who needs hospital treatment instead!
Yawn.
Yawn away. Hope you don’t get sick and have to lie in bed wasting away. A match won’t seem important then.
Or maybe we could spend all the extra tax revenues from the RWC on hospital treatment instead?
Ryan, New Zealand lost 30 million on the last rugby World Cup. The RFU pocketed millions as tournament owners and organisers, but the host country loses money. You will hear all the usual rubbish about all the money we would make but it’s all false. Check it out if you wish.
The begging-bowl syndrome?
The RFU run rugby in England, the IRB is the world governing body. If you knew that much I may start to believe you.
Who in New Zealand lost this 30million? 30million what? Euros? Grapes?
The NZRU may have lost in the short term. There is no doubt that the country and the country’s economy would have benefitted in the long term.
According to Wikipedia the 2011 World Cup cost NZ$310,000,000 to run, ticket sales earned NZ$280,000,000 (maybe where you got your 30million figure, so roughly €18.5million), accommodation, food and drink earnings were NZ$496,000,000. So the minimum the nation earned was NZ$466millon.
Letting your negativity get the better of yourself there I fear.
Not a penny will go into health care.
What does hosting the Rugby World Cup (RWC) in ten years have to do with healthcare investment except maybe spark investment in A&E in a regional hotel near a host venue?
Any stadiums used are already developed, are in the process of redevelopment or are already allocated funds for redevelopment. How does that affect healthcare?
Our road and rail network would be developed in time for the RWC, is that a bad thing? Plans for that have already been laid out and I would imagine funding would be through a national infrastructure plan, not healthcare. I would think that an improved communication network would benefit healthcare.
The financial benefit of hosting the RWC has been estimated at at least €800million, do you think that investment would be bad for healthcare or do you think Deloitte are wrong, do you know better than them? 130,000 people visited New Zealand in 2011, I would imagine we’d get 4-5times that amount, those bloody tourist will certainly go on a rampage through our hospitals!
Go back to the hole you climbed out of Willy!
Host the rugby World Cup???? We can’t afford to give medical cards to sick children let alone afford to host this event, don’t waste another red cent on this Leo
Agree 100 % Danny. I think we would be better off to bid for the Gathering in 2023 , although by then Australia might outbid us given the continued success of the Scattering ( currently sponsored by FG/LAB) !
Investment wouldn’t be huge. Casement park and pairc ui chaoimh are already going to be redeveloped by the GAA. So Croker, Aviva, RDS, Thomond, Ravenhill,Casement,pairc ui chaoimh, Sportsground. That is 8 decent enough stadiums and many of them bigger and better than in NZ. We have much more hotels and tourist infrastructure than NZ as it is. Really the cost wouldn’t be huge and we would have a decade to prepare.
It would bring in lots of tourists and if it was done well it would raise the profile or Ireland a lot. I’m sure the UK would chuck in a nice bit of change for Ravenhill if the bid was successful. Got to love a bit of cross-border economic co-operation.
The Gaelic Grounds, Semple Stadium, a plethora of country grounds such as St Tiernach’s Park and a redeveloped Musgrave Park could be also be used. With a little investment we could have to stadia to make a serious bid.
Whaaaahhh haa haa, sure they can hold the final in Gay Mitchell’s Olympic Stadium!
If the rugby crowns want GAA facilities for their tournament, let them change the date of their tournament to suit the GAA’s schedule.
Thomas
No dates have been set, Ireland hasn’t even been selected to host the tournament as yet. Jumping the gun a bit aren’t you.
they would be better off going for an joint bid with Scotland or Wales.
why??????
A lot of the complainers here sound similar to those in the UK re the Olympics which was a huge success. Not as big as it could have been mistakes were made ( which Ireland could learn from) but it was a great boost for tourism (concentrated unfortunately on London) and gave the country a sense of pride and success.
Does anyone seriously think that Ireland couldn’t pull off the same.
And yes I can imagine the UK sports minister pulling a couple of quid out of his pocket for Ravenhill.
How many UK (English, Welsh, Scottish) rugby fans do you think would come over? Although we’ll need to instigate controls to keep the Rugby League crowd out.
do we have a rail link to Dublin airport Mr varadker or how about the appalling gaa grounds apart from croke park or the appalling cork to limerick road
Why would we need a rail link to Dublin airport? I mean it would be nice and all but it isn’t needed. The port tunnel means aircoach have you into the city centre in around 15 minutes.
we do need a rail link to Dublin airport,should we scrap the luas cross city project too!rip up the dart lines too!I know let’s just have a bus based solution for Dublin privatized of course!!!!Dublin has the worst transport system in the eu
Come again?
Why do we need a rail link to Dublin Airport? You haven’t given any reason…
why do the 27 other EU member states not think like Eire?
Again could you give a reason why we desperately need a rail link to Dublin airport. Is their a cost/benefit analysis you could point be in the direction of? A national development plan or consultants report?
It’s just with the port tunnel and frequent and affordable coach services we have a pretty good way to get into the city centre. If we wanted to spend money on the rail network less flashy things like improved signalling would be great. Irish trains are slower than those in the UK or Europe at the moment.
I just don’t see any compelling reason to build a rail link and you have provided nothing at all.
He can’t, he spoofed and was found out…spoofing is for losers
Would you rather the final was held in the Aviva or croke park? I think I’d be happy with crime park.
That was auto correct. I wasn’t having a go at croke park! That would be my preferred place to host a final. Mainly for capacity reasons.
Great idea. As long as it is not another begging-bowl event- like the proposed all-Ireland -v- England soccer match! And the car-park and tuck-shop takings don’t go to some HSE big-wig or other to make up their pay.
Just a small thought. If games were played in GAA stadiums, that might generate interest in GAA particularly football, within visitors from UK.
This could increase interest in GAA in the UK.
Why does it need to have the North involved?
They’ve one rugger stadium that is too small anyway.
Why
Is there another sport in the world would allow there stadia be used by another sport, during there own peak season. Not a chance in hell. So why would the Gaa sanction this? Me thinks there is more to this than meets the eye. I would not be surprised if the grassroots decided enough is enough and reversed the congress decision when they finally realise how badly they will be affected. No matches in Croke park, Pairc ui Caoimh, Plus another one or two grounds for the entire month of June. Really it’s madness on the Gaa’s part, could not see Man U or Liverpool giving up there stadia for a month in the middle of there seasons, or as I said any other sport. Remarkable decision by the GAA delegates, but would expect it too be challenged.
Imagine the negative pr they would recieve if they were to renage? All it would take is a change to the schedule for one season.
Games in the 2015 RWC are being played at (amongst others) City of Manchester Stadium , Villa Park , Elland Road during September and October 2015, Joe.
Is the Rugby World Cup not held around September/October time? There would only be club games going on in Pairc Ui Caoimh. I am sure they could be accommodated in Pairc ui Rinn.
The only reason the GAA might not want to be sound and co-operate is the fact it would be such a boost for Rugby in Ireland – a generation of youngsters with dreams of playing rugby not football/hurling
Also for the many many people who commented that don’t understand economics – hosting the RWC would be a huge benefit to the Irish economy
Watch out Enda Leo is sniffing at your heels.