The English Rugby Football Union has vowed to stage the biggest World Cup ever after unveiling details of its bid to host the 2015 tournament in England and Wales. In a presentation to the International Rugby Board council in Dublin this morning, the RFU revealed plans to use the biggest stadia in both countries, including Twickenham, Wembley, Old Trafford, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The RFU ie 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 4th to October 17th.
Gloucester’s Kingsholm and Leicester’s Welford Road are the only recognised club rugby stadia set to be used.
The Emirates would host pool matches and the bronze medal match while the RFU also plans to use Anfield, Elland Road, the St Mary’s Stadium, St James’s 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.
The IRFU had been in talks with the RFU, the Scottish Rugby Union and Welsh Rugby Union on co-hosting the event but withdrew after it became apparent the matches would not be evenly distributed throughout the four home nations.
RFU chief executive Francis Baron said: “In 2015 it will be 24 years since England last hosted a Rugby World Cup and we believe the time is right.
“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.”
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.
RFU Director of Business Operations Paul Vaughan said: “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.
“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.”
The RFU’s bid has the full backing of the British government, who have agreed to underwrite part of the £80 million tournament fee and guarantee security for the tournament.
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