One main reason why Semple Stadium omitted from Rugby World Cup bid

Thurles’ Semple Stadium, the second largest GAA ground on the island, has been omitted from the list of twelve potential venues in Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, writes Brendan O'Brien.

Semple’s 50,000-plus capacity would have been more than ample for matchday purposes - and its location was equally suitable - but a lack of sufficient accommodation in the town and the surrounding area saw it lose out.

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne, speaking at the formal launch of Ireland's entry into the last, 'candidate' phase of the selection process at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, was adamant that the stadia is more than adequate to support the bid.

“Absolutely. No doubt about it. With the big GAA stadia and the rugby stadia we have the ideal mix. It is up to Rugby World Cup to choose probably the final eight or ten. Ours is a sustainable solution. All are pre-existing stadia apart from Casement which is in the process.

“All are city centre locations. There is no question of fans spending an hour on trains and two hours back in after a match. So for a fan it will be absolutely unique. We have a unique mix of standing and terracing. We could convert to all-seater if we wanted but we want to retain some standing.”

Ready For The World. Liam Neeson narrates Ireland's bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023 #Ireland2023 pic.twitter.com/zcZGBqsnO0

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 15, 2016

The Aviva Stadium and the RDS in Dublin, Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium in Belfast and Munster’s Limerick home of Thomond Park will provide the rugby venues while the 82,3000-capacity Croke Park will be expected to host the final should the bid be successful.

Nowlan Park in Kilkenny (which holds 24,000) and Derry’s Celtic Park (capacity 22,000) have made the list. So has Casement Park despite the fact that its refurbishment has been held up by planning issues. The party line is that the £72m reconstruction will be completed and a first game played at the rebuilt venue by 2020.

“We have built a new Ravenhill and we have built a new Windsor Park and we are now in the process of building a new Casement Park,” said Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness who also welcomed the inclusion of Celtic Park in whose shadow he was born and grew up.

“Wouldn’t it be absolutely wonderful to see a Rugby World Cup match played in that city?” he said.

Ireland’s bid chances were talked up on the back of ease of international access, infrastructure, history and tradition, past experience of hosting major international sporting event and the unique north-south, hands-across-the-border-element.

“This is not going to be easy,” warned An Taoiseach Enda Kenny about a bid process that sees Ireland pitted against South Africa and France. “We, where I come from, know what it is to fall at the last hurdle in sporting terms.”