Ireland bid to host 2017 WC

The Irish bid, which we ?˜positively some months ago,?˜would see the major knockout games and final?˜held at the?˜Kingspan Stadium (formerly Ravenhill) which has a capacity of over 18,000 with?˜Queen??s University Belfast providing pitches for the lower seeding deciders and?˜UCD hosting the pool stages.

UCD has a venue that could host 3,000 fans alongside other training fields, and would?˜suit the format of the Women's Rugby World Cup, which often sees?˜the majority of teams based around one site before games move to a bigger venue.?˜

The report that the IRFU expect the it to cost?˜cost about ??2.85 million to host the event?˜with ??950,000 coming from World Rugby. The IRFU hope to receive financial assistance from both the Republic and Northern Ireland Governments in their bid.?˜

A decision is likely in May with England, hosts in 2010, and South Africa all thought to be interested, though Ireland's very public bid puts them on the front foot.?˜

IRFU Women's Rugby Ambassador?˜Fiona Coghlan?˜said: "I am delighted to be part of this ambitious bid to bring one of the world's premier women's sporting events to Ireland. The development and profile of women's sport has been fantastic in recent years and it will be a great opportunity for Ireland to showcase sport and to get more women and girls to consider taking up a team sport."Having captained Ireland at the recent Women's Rugby World Cup in France I hope that I can help Irish Rugby to develop a Rugby World Cup that tops everything that went before and I know that the Irish people, Irish business and the Irish media will all come together to deliver a tournament to remember."

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