Ireland 2023: the World Cup dream kicks off today
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.
In February, former Irish international star Hugo MacNeill was asked to chair the cross-border working group examining the issue — with the bid to be green-lighted today.
As well as Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Kingspan Stadium at Ravenhill in Belfast and Thomond Park in Limerick, a 2023 World Cup in Ireland would also hope to utilise GAA venues such as Croke Park.
In May, current Irish coach Joe Schmidt said an all-Ireland Rugby World Cup could replicate the success of his native New Zealand in its staging of the 2011 tournament.
“You have got the same population and the same kind of energy around sporting occasions, and I think you have got the stadia,” he said.
Former All Black skipper Sean Fitzpatrick also backed the idea of Ireland making a bid.
“Why not? People said that New Zealand couldn’t host the World Cup but we did and put on a fantastic tournament. Everyone in the country got behind it, the New Zealand government was the only government that put money up front for such a tournament to make it happen. Helen Clarke [Premier] went to the IRB meeting and said there’s $50 million (€30.8m) to guarantee the tournament.
“Once we got it, everyone just bought into it and it was phenomenal what it did for the country in terms of tourism. The legacy has been absolutely amazing and we can now hold other similar major sporting events.
“Ireland has the people. You have the passion, a fantastic country and I am sure you have the stadiums to be able to host it. We were told we didn’t have the stadiums but we did. We made it work and we didn’t build any new stadiums except giving Eden Park a facelift through redevelopment.”
Ex-Irish captain Keith Wood pointed to New Zealand as being the perfect role model for Ireland to follow.
“If the numbers stacked up, wouldn’t it be phenomenal?
“It isn’t just rugby, it has to be the country, about getting people on board. We know, for instance in a very big Munster game in the Heineken Cup or say against Leinster, that there’s about €10 million put into the coffers of the city. That’s just one game.
“Whether something like the rugby World Cup coming to Ireland could be enough of an income generator we would need to know, but we need inward investment and as much inward tourism as possible. You have to aim for big things; there is work to be done before it could be made happen, but logistically it is possible and you have to dream the dream,” said Wood.
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