World Cup plans unveiled by RFU

May 13 2009

The Rugby Football Union has vowed to stage an "outstanding" World Cup after unveiling details of their 2015 bid in Dublin.

In a presentation to the International Rugby Board council, the RFU revealed plans to host matches at the biggest stadia in England and Wales including Twickenham, Wembley, Old Trafford and the Emirates Stadium.

By staging matches at such venues, the RFU are targeting sell-out crowds at every match with a cumulative total of three million ticket sales for the tournament - a 30 per cent increase on France 2007.

The final and two semi-finals would be held at Twickenham with Wembley and the Millennium Stadium hosting quarter-finals and pool matches of the tournament, which is scheduled to run from September 4 to October 17.

Kingsholm, the home of Guinness Premiership side Gloucester, and Leicester's Welford Road are the only recognised club rugby stadium's set to be used.

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium would host pool matches and the bronze medal match while the RFU also plan to use Anfield, Elland Road, the St Mary's Stadium, St James' Park and the Ricoh Arena.

England are competing against South Africa, Italy and Japan to host the World Cup for the first time since 1991.

"In 2015 it will be 24 years since England last hosted a Rugby World Cup and we believe the time is right," said RFU chief executive Francis Baron.

"The RFU is 100 per cent committed to delivering an outstanding World Cup in 2015.

"These are turbulent and difficult times but we believe the bid we have put together represents a low risk but high potential return.

"At the heart of our bid are passion, love and commitment to the game and its ideals. Our desire is to broaden rugby's horizons by reaching out and embracing new audiences.

"The tournament would serve as a catalyst to drive participation, awareness and opportunities supporting the development of the game nationally, in Europe and across the globe.

"The RFU is committed to investing 100 per cent of its surplus from the tournament back into the grassroots game, both here in England and through our continued investment in our development agreements with north America and support for the Pacific Island nations."

With the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand not expected to generate the same revenue levels as France 2007 or Australia 2003, the RFU argued England's bid will make the most commercial sense.

"With a proven track record of organising and delivering major sporting events, hosting the tournament in England would, we believe, deliver the best possible return to support the IRB in the development of the game worldwide," said RFU director of business operations Paul Vaughan.

"We will use some of the largest and iconic stadia in the world, venues like Twickenham Stadium (82,000), Wembley (90,000), Old Trafford (76,000), the Millennium Stadium (74,000) and the Emirates (61,000).

"Each of these venues is already equipped with the highest quality facilities, served by a comprehensive travel infrastructure and experienced in hosting world class sporting events. The result is a low risk, high reward strategy, capable of providing the ultimate experience for spectators, participants and partners alike.

"With an advanced broadcasting environment, we believe that hosting the tournament in England would attract more global brands to sponsor the event by providing the optimal environment for them to activate their rights."