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The International Rugby Board, owner of Rugby World Cup, has confirmed that 10 Unions have formally expressed an intention to host either Rugby World Cup 2015 or 2019. The unprecedented response is a record for Rugby World Cup which is now firmly established as one of the world’s top five sporting events.

All IRB Member Unions were invited to express an interest in hosting Rugby World Cup 2015 and/or the 2019 tournament. Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales have formally confirmed their interest in hosting Rugby World Cup 2015, while Australia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Wales submitted an expression of interest in tendering for the 2019 tournament. The deadline for written submissions was 5pm (UK time) on August 15.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "This is tremendous news for Rugby World Cup. 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.

"The strong response also justifies the IRB’s move to award two tournaments at the same time. This provides longer term certainty for the hosts, Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) 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.

“The IRB Council will announce the RWC 2015 and 2019 Host Unions in July 2009, six years prior to the first tournament and 10 years prior to the 2019 event. This timetable reflects the scale and nature of the preparatory work in delivering this world class tournament," added Lapasset.

The 10 Unions now have until May 8, 2009 to submit their detailed Tender responses to RWCL. The responses will then be reviewed by RWCL before the Tender Unions will be invited to make a presentation to the IRB Council in May 2009. The Host Unions for Rugby World Cup 2015 and Rugby World Cup 2019 will be selected at a special meeting of the IRB Council on July 28, 2009.

(Source: IRB)