Finances Cloud England Rwc 2015 Bid

England’s bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup is in the balance with the RFU hesitating at the £80m financial guarantee demanded by the International Rugby Board to host the tournament.

The Rugby Football Union is worried it could be bankrupted by the demands for a guaranteed sum by the IRB.

‘In these difficult economic times that’s a real tough ask,” RFU chief executive Francis Baron said.

‘We’d love the World Cup to come back to England, but we can’t do if it puts the RFU into financial difficulty.’

Bids to host the tournament must be submitted by 8th May but the bidding process has been beset by similar complaints with both Australia and Scotland already dropping out.

England’s proposal is supported by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the RFU has been in close contact with the government in trying to come up with a bid package.

Added Baron: ‘We’re trying to come up with a package of measures to enable us to come up with a bid. We need a package of support measures from the government – the guarantee is one issue, but there are other issues such as event security.

‘We’re still working through all the issues and are working closely with the government, who have been fantastically supportive.’

If England go ahead with a bid to host the 2015 tournament, they will receive the backing of the Welsh Rugby Union whose chief executive Roger Lewis hopes some games would be held in Wales.

Japan, Italy and South Africa are also in the running, although Europe is the logical next destination after New Zealand host the tournament in 2011.

The IRB will vote on the hosts for both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups on 28th July.