Liam Neeson, Brian O’Driscoll and the GAA… just give up now South Africa and France.
Ireland 2023 officially launched their campaign to host the Rugby World Cup in seven years’ time in the Aviva on Tuesday and it is fair to say they made a compelling case.
A list of stadia that includes the world class Aviva Stadium and Croke Park, a population that is genuinely engaged in the sport, the fact we’re the best team in the world and because Liam Neeson says so.
It’s a compelling case. And that is before you mention the fact South Africa and France have hosted the tournament before. Okay, Ireland have hosted the odd game at previous tournaments but surely World Rugby, after taking the tournament to Japan in 2019, want to give another country a shot at hosting the showpiece event for a globally expanding sport.
Sure there are a few questions. Like ‘where is this superb transport system bid chairman Dick Spring speaks of?’ ‘What if the objections to Casement Park are upheld?’ And, ‘ If Ireland go on a seven-year unbroken winning spree under Joe Schmidt will the rest of the world want to hand us home advantage?’
Despite these questions, Ladbrokes have installed Ireland as 4/5 favourites to host the tournament, which could be worth up to €800 million tot he Irish economy.
South Africa, at 9/4, are second favourites to host it for a second time after the epochal 1995 tournament and France, at 3/1, are the long shot.
Hayley O’Connor of Ladbrokes said: “We think the organisers will find Ireland’s bid the most tempting. The proposal looks impressive and with Liam Neeson putting his weight behind it, they might be too scared to say no.”
