Croker key to World Cup bid

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne has revealed the union may ask its counterparts in Scotland and Wales to host games in the 2023 Rugby World Cup if it proceeds with a bid to bring the tournament to Ireland.

Browne admitted yesterday that the venues currently available to the IRFU would not suffice for any bid to proceed and added that the union “would need to sit down and talk about Croke Park” with the GAA if the event is to come to these shores.

“It’s something we’re looking at it,” he explained. “We haven’t formed a final view on it. We’ll obviously need to speak with the minister [for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadker] about it before we make any decisions to progress any further.