IRFU appoints key advisers for Rugby World Cup 2023 bid

The Irish Rugby Football Union has appointed the advisers it hopes will deliver a successful Irish bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

As England prepares to host this year’s event from next week, the Irish bid team will include advisers involved in the last three Olympic games as well as this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Deloitte will project manage the bid process on behalf of the IRFU, with the Irish team getting assistance from Deloitte’s dedicated sports unit in the UK, which was involved in the London 2012 Olympic bid. One of the directors of the UK sports business will relocate to Dublin for the duration of the bid process.

Deloitte Ireland's Chris Nugent will be programme manager for the Irish campaign.

The IRFU has also appointed Irish International, a BBDO company, to handle the creative elements of the bid and Havas unit Seven46 as "bid coach" or strategic content messaging adviser.

BBDO has been involved in both this year’s Rugby World Cup and in winning the same event in New Zealand four years ago. Seven46 has been involved in the last three successful Olympic bids.

The advisers have been appointed after a six month EU-wide procurement process required of the IRFU as public money is involved in its bid.

Kevin Potts, the chief operating officer of the IRFU, who is director of the Irish bid team, said one of the IRFU requirements was that all advisers had to have been involved previously in winning a bid for a global sporting event.

“They are world class, they have all done this before, they are all committed to this and they are all part of one team now,” said Mr Potts.

Ireland is competing with South Africa, France and Italy to host the 2023 event and a decision will be made on the successful bid in May 2017.

“We are absolutely convinced that Ireland can deliver a world class tournament,” said Mr Potts. “The key is convincing those who will end up voting that we can.”