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Varadkar To Announce Bid For Rugby World Cup 2023

By Publications Checkout
Varadkar To Announce Bid For Rugby World Cup 2023

Minister for Sport Leo Varadkar will be kickstarting a bid for Ireland to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. A new study shows the tournament would reel in 337,000 rugby fans to the country, boosting the economy by about €800 million. 

The event would see games played in major stadiums, including the Aviva and the RDS in Dublin, Thomond Park in Limerick, and Casement Park and Ravenhill in Belfast.

Ireland faces competition from South Africa and possibly from Russia or a US-Canada joint bid for the right to host the 2023 world cup.

Mr Vadadkar strongly opposes any plans of banning alcohol sponsorship in sports and believes it would weaken our chances of winning the bid. 

World Cup winner Sean Fitzpatrick has backed Ireland's bid to host the 2023 World Cup. "I think it's a fantastic idea. People said New Zealand couldn't host a World Cup and we put on a fantastic tournament. But in saying that, everyone got behind it. That was important. Ireland has got the people and the passion to host a World Cup. New Zealand was told they didn't have the stadiums, but we made it work and I'm sure Ireland has good stadiums." he told the Irish Independent.

The minister will discuss the idea at the Cabinet tomorrow.

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