RWC 2023: State of play - Ireland
Excitement is mounting ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, which is just two short years away. After Japan’s surprisingly impressive and passionate performances in recent years, and with some gorgeous settings to provide a backdrop, it promises to be one of the most unique and spectacular editions of the tournament yet. Nonetheless, here at RugbyPass we’ve always got one eye on the future. Assuming the world isn’t destroyed in a nuclear apocalypse between now and then, the 10th RWC will be held in 2023. With three countries (Ireland, France and South Africa) still in contention to host the sport’s biggest showcase, we take a look at each of the bids in order to work out which Airbnb we should be pre-booking for 6 years’ time. We start with Ireland.
Ireland:
After the somewhat unexpected venture to Japan in 2019, rumour has it that World Rugby wants the 2023 edition to return to one of rugby’s “heartlands”, kind of like when you spent a summer volunteering in South America then immediately got a job in a bank in your hometown because adventure is all well and good but you missed your mum’s cooking. Rambling digressions aside, if these intentions are true it can only be a good thing for Ireland’s bid. Rugby has always been traditionally important in Ireland, and the fact that the national team are now firmly established as one of the world’s best means public support is at an all-time high. Ireland’s recent defeat of New Zealand, coupled with home field advantage would mean that the national side go into the tournament buoyed with confidence as an outside favourite of claiming the Webb Ellis Cup. This optimism and positivity on the part of the Irish fans would certainly go some way to ensuring healthy ticket sales in the lead up to the tournament.
However, regardless of how well tickets are sold Ireland is always going to be dwarfed in audience terms by the competing bids. With an overall population of around 6.6 million across both the Republic and Northern Ireland, the potential number of supporters is dwarfed by South Africa’s 55.91 million and is less than a 10th of France’s 66.9 million. Perhaps recognising this, Ireland’s bid hasn’t centred around its ability to pack people in, but has instead played to other strengths. The proposal’s main advantage is one of stability, with substantial government support and sensible business involvement meaning the endeavour would be virtually risk free from a commercial perspective.
As well as this, Ireland’s bid has combined the stability of hosting in an established rugby nation with the potential to expand into a new rugby market by promising significant involvement in North America. Other than brief mention of a “legacy programme”, exactly how this would work isn’t quite clear, but the fact that IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne is on record as saying that he sees Ireland’s bid as representing a three way partnership between themselves, World Rugby and USA Rugby clearly indicates American involvement would be substantial. World Rugby have made no secret of wishing to increase their presence in the States, and if Ireland hosting the World Cup could help them do that, it will be hard for them to say no.
In terms of infrastructure, Ireland has some fantastic stadiums that would undoubtedly produce an incredible atmosphere throughout the tournament. Kingspan, Ulster’s former Ravenhill would host games, as well as Munster’s iconic Thomond Park, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and a host of other rugby and GAA grounds ahead of the finale at Croke Park. All of the proposed venues are guaranteed as part of the bid, meaning there will be no repeat of some of the issues currently affecting Japan’s preparation for the tournament where officials are scrambling to ensure stadiums are completed on time.
Ireland also have recent experience of hosting a major international tournament, with many seeing the Women’s World Cup as something of a test run for the more high profile event. Exactly how successful the tournament was is not overly clear yet, but officials will have learned some valuable lessons. With plans for the largest number of overseas supporters for the tournament, Ireland have guaranteed travelling fans some peace of mind by legally mandating that hotel prices won’t face an extortionate price hike. Ireland will be hoping that such moves will help assuage concerns that previous hosts France and South Africa are better prepared to deal with the logistical concerns and responsibilities of hosting.
Verdict:
Ireland will be seen by many as the safe choice, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t host a fantastic tournament. They can’t break the bank the way France have promised to do, but World Rugby are still being promised a profitable and risk-free tournament which builds on established support whilst dangling the tantalising prospect of North American expansion. Current bookmakers odds put Ireland as favourites, but all this could change before the bids are finalised and presented on Monday.
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments