RUGBY WORLD CUP

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Ten countries vye for World Cup

Saturday 16th August 2008

Australia, France, New Zealand... Jamaica...

A record ten nations have registered interest in hosting either the 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cup, including a slightly outlandish bid from Jamaica.

The IRB was delighted at the news, calling the unprecedented response a real sign that rugby's global pull had outgrown its traditional colonial borders.

"This is tremendous news for Rugby World Cup," IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said.

"The fact that 10 member unions have signalled their intention to tender for the 2015 and 2019 tournaments reflects the growing global prestige of the Rugby World Cup.

"Five of the six IRB regions are represented, with Italy, Jamaica and Russia signalling an interest to tender for a Rugby World Cup for the first time. Such a response highlights the growing development and popularity of rugby across the world."

Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales have confirmed an interest in hosting Rugby World Cup 2015, while Australia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Wales submitted expressions of interest in tendering for the 2019 tournament, Lapasset said.

The deadline for submissions of tender is May 8, 2009, with formal presentations to be made later that month. The decisions will be made on July 28, 2009 for both 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups.

"The strong response also justifies the IRB's move to award two tournaments at the same time," Lapasset said.

"This provides longer term certainty for the hosts, Rugby World Cup Limited and the tournament's commercial partners. It also ensures that future development investment initiatives in the game worldwide can continue to be underwritten by the tournament and planned accordingly."