IRFU chief promises Irish 2023 Rugby World Cup bid is ‘risk-free’

“This bid is an extraordinarily powerful declaration of intent by the IRFU, our friends in the GAA, the governments, state bodies from North and South and the Irish people.”

Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup is a “risk-free” option for the game’s governing body, according to IRFU chief Philip Browne, writes Brendan O’Brien.

The union’s CEO spearheaded a heavy-hitting delegation that included Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Brian O’Driscoll in London on Monday where they, the French and the South African teams made their official presentations to World Rugby’s Council.