England Targets Best Rwc Yet

The doors of the new headquarters for England Rugby 2015 opened on Monday, with a number of top line names already appointed to help make sure that Rugby World Cup 2015 is the best tournament ever.

England Rugby 2015 (ER 2015) CEO Paul Vaughan and Mike Miller, managing director of Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), were joined by ER 2015 ambassadors Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Greenwood and Maggie Alphonsi.

Vaughan said: ‘I have absolutely no doubt that we can deliver the best Rugby World Cup yet.  Looking at likely ticket sales I am sure that the nine million rugby fans in England will be keen to be there, together with a wider audience from across Europe and the travelling supporters from around the world we saw at RWC 2011 in New Zealand.’ 

‘It will be a fantastic shop window for our sport which will help the legacy and a real boost for the UK economy.’

Mike Miller added: ‘Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand was an exceptional event that set the bar for others to follow, capturing the imagination of the global sporting family and uniting a nation behind a tournament that was underpinned by a strong partnership between the IRB, the Organising Body, the New Zealand Rugby Union, Government and Regional authorities.’

‘Planning and preparation for Rugby World Cup 2015 is well underway. We have developed a strong partnership with ER 2015 based on a shared vision of delivering a tournament that will provide the profile, participation and financial foundations for Rugby to continue its phenomenal growth around the world.’

‘I am sure that Rugby World Cup 2015 will be an outstanding tournament that the country and the global Rugby family will be proud of.’

Vaughan’s board includes the RFU’s recently appointed CEO Ian Ritchie, RFU Chief Financial Officer, Stephen Brown, Professional Game Board Chairman, Ian Metcalfe, Injured Players Foundation Chairman and former RFU President, John Owen and from the RFU Council the Championship’s Geoff Irvine.

Dates and venues for the tournament are yet to be fixed, but the International Rugby Board is due to decide in March.

However, the Rugby World Cup is set to take place at the same time as the Premier League, which could rule out the use of grounds such as Anfield and Old Trafford.