England, Japan tipped as RWC hosts
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:58
It's yours: Bernard Lapassett and Japanese PM Taro Aso
Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) announced it was recommending England to the International Rugby Board Council to host Rugby World Cup 2015 and Japan to stage the tournament in 2019.
"All the tenders were of a very high standard and each Union demonstrated that they could host an excellent Rugby World Cup. It is a tribute to the health of the game and the enormous prestige of RWC that the field was so strong," said RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
"Both Italy and South Africa submitted comprehensive tenders with very strong Government support and would be capable of hosting outstanding Rugby World Cup tournaments now or in the future," said Lapasset.
"However, there could only be two recommended Unions and after detailed review, the RWCL Board decided that England and Japan would provide the best balanced combination of hosts for the continued worldwide development of the Game."
Lapasset added the tournament's commercial success would give the IRB a platform to invest up to 150 million pounds (200 million dollars) in 2009-2012 across all 116 Member Unions in the form of annual Union grants and the strategic investment programme that is designed to increase the competitiveness of the game.
"As the revenue generated from RWC is vital to the IRB's ongoing development plans, the RWCL Board considered in its review process the preference for RWC to be held in one of the major Rugby markets on a regular basis," said Lapasset.
He explained that a tournament in England would be commercially strong and deliver "a great RWC showcase."
In making the decision for 2019, "the RWCL Board believes that a Rugby World Cup in Japan would provide a gateway to the further development and expansion of the Game in Asia, reaching out to new young fans and providing a superb spectacle for the sport."
Japan recently hosted a successful IRB Junior World Championship and the lead time through to 2019 would produce a tournament able to provide "lasting legacies in Japan and Asia," added Lapasset.
Following the recommendations the IRB council is scheduled to confirm its selections for the two events on July 28.
"The RFU is delighted that Rugby World Cup Limited [RWCL] has decided to recommend England to the IRB Council as the host for RWC 2015," said Martyn Thomas, Chairman of the Rugby Football Union..
"Hosting the tournament would be the next step in the Government's Decade of World Sport and will follow closely on the 2012 Olympics and leads into our bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. We are mindful though that the RWCL recommendation is just the first step and that the final decision rests with the Council on 28th July."
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