Confident: Ian Ritchie
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RFU CEO Ian Ritchie has rejected a proposal from the Welsh Rugby Union to play the Rugby World Cup group match between England and Wales in Cardiff.
WRU boss Roger Lewis suggested following Monday's draw that England might want to play their group clash in the "greatest stadium of the world", but Ritchie has declared that ahead of the upcoming £76 million investment on Twickenham Stadium, that the venue will be more than adequate.
"We have a very nice home of our own and I would hope very much we would contemplate playing the match here," said Ritchie.
"With our modest little stadium here at Twickenham, with the further investment we might be able to make it into a decent spot to play rugby.
"We equally believe we are very good hosts here and that we could hold a decent game here and would very much want to do that. Shock, horror and astonishment that I would suggest that!
"We will not get a better opportunity to inspire people to play rugby, be volunteers and participate in rugby.
"We are putting the building blocks in place to make sure we can take the most advantage of having the World Cup.
"The draw brings up all sorts of things about who plays where. There is another three months before we get to a conclusion on which venues we will select.
"How do we inspire the game around the country and who plays where? It is a complex matrix and as a member of the board we have a responsibility to look at the total competition."
Comments
7ton says...
Sincero
And all the coal that came out of the valleys? Did England not benefit from that?
Posted 10:23 12th December 2012
new_j4a says...
....the smegma produced by the beautiful game, rugby
Posted 11:01 09th December 2012
Sincero says...
How exactly was it racist to point out you're diddling the English out of money at every turn? You didn't pay for the stadium, or your phony 'government'- the English did. And it just shows you how utterly insignificant you are that they don't object- they don't even consider you at all. You're not a clearly nation, you're an English county with a paper government and a new stadium to try to stop you from your incessant moaning. Stolen girlfriend? Purlease- the only thing Taffy is capable of stealing is a side of beef and billions upon billions of sterling. Of course in the next verse you get beaten round the head with a mutton bone, so everyone wins, I suppose.
Posted 12:22 07th December 2012
Sincero says...
Many heart-felt apologies if my post offended (duly noted nobody contested any of the facts, but the truth must hurt)- I'm just surprised there were any Welshies out there who could read it, what with your eyes being so disconcertingly close together.
Posted 11:57 07th December 2012
jontheref says...
jamiethe prop
So you wouldn't have any games in wales.
Fair enough, but as it was part of the bid, and financially supported by the WAG, you will not get your wish.
If England had wanted it to themselves, they should have bid for it themselves.
End of story.
Posted 17:51 06th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Lawynd, I think we're on the same page on this one. It's exciting just thinking about 2015.
Posted 12:39 06th December 2012
new_j4a says...
@all, the knacker scum sincero is an irishman and the only people he hates more than the Welsh are the English. On behalf of all good Irishmen, I apologize for his racist bile....when it comes to the begging bowl, he forgets that Wales and England have recently put a few bob in the Irish bowl to go with the hundreds of millions from Germany and France.
Posted 22:00 05th December 2012
JamieTheProp says...
@ Aotearoan - I was talking population-wise!
But I wasn't clear!
Posted 16:46 05th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ makemehappy - the gimp that is Sincero is not English. In fact, I'm not entirely sure he's human.
Posted 16:21 05th December 2012
lawynd says...
@makemehappy - Sincero is Irish, please don't tar us with his ignorance.
Posted 15:52 05th December 2012
yamahakiwi says...
@Aotearoan. As another kiwi who enjoyed having the whole RWC in our backyard completely agree that as this is England's RWC and they're capable of handling it themselves it should be a "Wales-free Zone". Wouldn't it be nice to have a NH RWC without games in Wales for once?!! And yes the worst thing about RWC2007 (apart from AB loss to France) was having games in Wales & Scotland.
Why even have QFs in Cardiff when you have just as iconic stadium with Old Trafford up in Northern England, an area that gets precious little international rugby. Unbelieveable again that Merseyside an area of major population and lack of top level rugby union didn't have either Anfield or Goodison Park even shortlisted. That's nothing less than pathetic, especially when the the RFU and IRB are bleating on about "legacy". And it's ridiculous that not one post-pool game will be held outside London in another part of England. And please don't tell me that for one weekend something cannot be worked out with Man U.
One great thing about 2011 was that the organisers took it to most parts of the country. Only Christchurch missed out for obvious reasons and even then it was one of the venues originally.
Posted 15:42 05th December 2012
lardon says...
@ Dafydd29
England is the Host Nation, Why should they play what is basically an away fixture in another country that isn't a host nation?. It was a cheeky proposal that was never going to be successful.
Posted 13:32 05th December 2012
makemehappy says...
@Sincero - pretty revolting post on the 4th at 17:47. Obviously you're jealous of the stadium in Cardiff. I would be if I was English.
Really hard to believe that there are people opn here who thought the offer was a serious one!
Posted 13:29 05th December 2012
lawynd says...
@rugby_rockstar - me and my mates are already planning a similar exercise. Yes, we'd love to go and see all the England games but realistically, tickets are going to be as rare as rocking horse sh1t. So we are going to try and take in as many games up and down the UK as possible - I recommend getting up to the north east in particular, whichever stadium is selected out of St. James' Park or the Stadium of Light ('Sh1te' to us Toon fans!), Newcastle is a great city and Northumberland itself is beautiful country. Sadly my nearest games are either London or the East Midlands, which aren't as appealing!
Posted 12:47 05th December 2012
Aotearoan says...
@JamieTheProp - NZ small? England big? NZ is twice the size of England.
Have to agree though - England should be capable of hosting it on their own. It was annoying to have ABs games hosted in Wales and Scotland in 2007.
Posted 10:54 05th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
As a Devonian i've got this plan in my head than involves driving all around england hitting as many pubs as possible and catching matches all over the place.
Okay I'm basically copying what Haka Tours put in place for us in 2011 but why not take this opportunity finally visit the lake district, have a go at flying in a microlite aircraft or swimming in one of those hill top lakes who's name escapes me? or doing some coasteering, river boarding, horse trekking, quad biking. NZ RWC was the best thing I've ever done in my life. So why not do the same thing in England? (one thing we can;t compete with and believe me I've looked, is the bungee jumping, sky jumps and cayonswings. Gravity Valley, Shotover Canyon, Nevis Bungee, the Auckland Sky Tower. Can't beat 'em. Bring on the sky diving and para-sailing through!!!)
Anyway, don't miss out just because you're English, get planning now!!!! :)
Posted 10:40 05th December 2012
RugbyLocos says...
Sincero........ Were you bullied in school by a Welsh boy who stole your lunch money, your football cards, and your welsh girlfriend?. I hope so !!!
Posted 10:16 05th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Phwoar, now that must have been a tough decision. ;)
Posted 09:59 05th December 2012
JamieTheProp says...
I'm hoping England do play a game up north - that would be good! Otherwise I can see myself spending a lot of time in London!
I'm pretty sure that England got the World Cup on its own merits without any help from the Welsh nation - if a small country like New Zealand can host it then a big one like England certainly can - and NZ did a great job!
I personally wouldn't have any games in Wales - there are better stadia in England for the bigger games - Twickenham, Wembley, Old Trafford, The Emirates etc. and then suitable stadia for the lesser games - So there's no need to.
I would imagine that the RFU have a decent level of influence over the organising committee so there won't be any nasty surprises and Wales will be travelling around to play their games like every other guest nation to our wonderful
Country - and I am sure they will enjoy the great English hospitality wherever they play!
I'm just hoping I can get tickets in the draw - manages it for all England's games in NZ but 2015 will be harder!
Posted 08:37 05th December 2012
jontheref says...
heathy
at least you can understand the humour these guys Lewis and Ritchie, are using, in what was no doubt and off the wall punt by Lewis.
Unlike the tool sincero, who does not even have his facts right.
"there are none so blind, as those who will not see"
hope he chokes on his prejudice!
Posted 08:07 05th December 2012