Ireland 2023: the World Cup dream kicks off today

THE all-Ireland bid to stage the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be officially unveiled today in Armagh.

Cross-border determination to bring the biggest sporting event in the nation’s history to these shores will move a stage further with the announcement of a major cross-border initiative at Armagh’s Royal School.

Officials from the Irish Rugby Football Union will join representatives from the Northern Ireland Executive and Irish Government to outline their ambition to jointly host the sport’s showpiece event. Both administrations have been engaged in a preliminary assessment exercise over the last 10 months to weigh up the feasibility of submitting an official bid.