Ireland's bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 was launched at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, were among the dignitaries from both sides of the border on hand to put forward Ireland's strong case.
Proposed stadia for #Ireland2023 though the locals around Casement Park may have something to say about that pic.twitter.com/7U8o849JKh
— Daniel Pitcher🎙📻 (@DanPitchside) November 15, 2016
Ireland find themselves up against South Africa and France in the race to host the event and with the 2019 World Cup to be staged in Japan, it's thought World Rugby would like to see it return to Europe.
Ready For The World. Liam Neeson narrates Ireland's bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023 #Ireland2023 pic.twitter.com/zcZGBqsnO0
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 15, 2016
A long list of stadium venues was included in the bid with a process to run between now and November 2017.
Croke Park would host the final with other GAA grounds involved in the earlier stages of the tournament. Those include Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, Fitzgerald Stadium Kilarney, Pearse Stadium Galway, McHale Park Castlebar, Casement Park Belfast and Celtic Park Derry.
Ireland legend and 2016 World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Brian O'Driscoll is a brand ambassador for the bid and he said that Ireland stands a real chance of hosting Rugby's top tournament.
Many apperances for Ireland down the years of World Cups, the former Irish captain has seen his fair share of highs, defeating Australia in 2011 and the lows, 2007 in France, that the tournament has to offer.
O'Driscoll reckons Ireland 2023 could be the most successful one yet.
" I understand how much work has gone in behind the scenes to get to this point and how serious we have taken this process," said O'Driscoll.
" We really want to show the best of Ireland.
"This is not about dipping our toes in and seeing whether World Rugby are taking us seriously for a future World Cup, it's about 2023 and I think we would host a phenomenal tournament."
