The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, together with Jonathan Bell MLA, NI Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport today attended a meeting of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Oversight Board. The group reaffirmed the Governments’ commitment to the project and expressed their desire to see Ireland win the bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Addressing the meeting the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD stated:
‘The Rugby World Cup is one of the world’s major sporting events and winning the right to host it involves an extremely competitive process which will demand extraordinary effort, focus and ingenuity by the entire Island if we are to be successful. I have no doubt that we can deliver on the requirements to make a Rugby World Cup in Ireland a hugely attractive, fun destination for rugby supporters from throughout the world with matches hosted across a unique combination of modern, yet wonderfully atmospheric stadia.’
Minister Bell MLA added:
‘Both my Department and I will do all we can to provide the necessary assistance in developing a successful winning bid. Our supporters consistently set records for attendance at matches and undoubtedly the staging of the RWC 2023 would draw visitors and supporters from around the world. I am confident working together we can stage a spectacular, world class sporting tournament.’
In response, the Chairman of the Oversight Board, Dick Spring, stated:
‘The challenge we face is great but it is a challenge we relish. As a board we are charged with delivering a superlative bid on behalf of Ireland and I am fully confident that we will deliver on this. Beyond that I am confident that a 2023 Rugby World Cup in Ireland would be a phenomenal success, both culturally and financially, given the unqualified support the bid has from the Public and Governments, together with the passion of Irish people for sport, which time and again manifests itself in sell out sporting events across the Island.’
