Ireland Welcomes Progress to Final Phase of RWC 2023 Bid Process

World Rugby has today confirmed Ireland, France and South Africa as Rugby World Cup 2023 host candidates.
 
Each union demonstrated within its application that it could meet key criteria critical to a viable Rugby World Cup hosting bid by the 1 September deadline. 

Dick Spring, Chairman, Ireland's RWC 2023 Bid Oversight Board commented:

'We very much welcome the formal announcement from World Rugby that Ireland's application to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 has progressed to the final phase.

'We note that World Rugby will officially open the final process on November 1 and we look forward to detailing Ireland's approach to this final phase of the process in the weeks following that announcement.

'Significant work has already been undertaken in the preparation of Ireland's bid and this will continue apace as we enter this next phase. Given the level of support to date from all quarters including Governments, North and South, sporting organisations, in particular the GAA, and indeed the general public, I remain convinced that Ireland can mount a winning bid for what is one of the great occasions on the world sporting calendar.'