World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper has hinted that Ireland’s timing hasn’t been right as the country finds itself ranked behind “two masters of the universe in terms of putting on major world events” in the race to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

All’s fair in love and war and, it seems, the bidding process for major sporting events.

Tickets for the Rugby World Cup games in 2023 could be as low as €20 if an all-Ireland bid for the event is successful.