Sport

England to bid for World Cup 2015

ENGLAND WILL submit a British government-backed bid to stage the 2015 World Cup

Wed May 06 2009 - 01:00

ENGLAND WILL submit a British government-backed bid to stage the 2015 World Cup. Twickenham, Wembley, Old Trafford and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium are set to be included as venues in the RFU’s blueprint.

Details will not be divulged publicly until after a five-man RFU delegation make the presentation to International Rugby Board Council members in Dublin this day week. That group will include 2003 World Cup winners Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood, plus Andy Burnham, the British Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport.

Only last week, RFU chief executive Francis Baron spoke of the “big, big commitment” to bid for rugby union’s eighth global spectacular, underlined through the €90.3 million guarantee demanded by the IRB. But the government and RFU have agreed a support package to make the bid possible.

Other countries in the running are South Africa – hosts in 1995 – Japan and Italy, who have already announced full government underwriting and support of the IRB guarantee.

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The deadline for bids to be lodged is this Friday, with presentations next week and a final decision expected from the IRB in late July.

Ireland and Scotland recently pulled out of any co-hosting bid with the RFU, but the Welsh Union will support England’s quest and stage games in Wales, although they will not be co-hosts.

The RFU’s most recent World Cup bid – for the 2007 tournament – ended in abject failure after France won a landslide victory.

With New Zealand staging the next World Cup in 2011, the 2015 version is poised for a Northern Hemisphere stage. And England, who jointly held the 1991 tournament, would appear to be in pole position for an event.

Former England captain Dallaglio has already added his weight to the bid as he said: “Playing in the World Cup is every player’s dream. I was fortunate to play in three, and the drama created by the tournament can only be matched by the passion of people for sport in England.

“Putting the two together at world-class venues like Twickenham, Wembley, Old Trafford and the Millennium Stadium will produce the ultimate rugby event.”