The verdict was unsympathetic, the casting votes quite damning. Yet nothing about Ireland’s unsuccessful bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup has deterred the Government from supporting similar bids for future major sporting events.
At least that’s according to Shane Ross, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, who is still adamant the Irish bid was both worthy and justified.
Of the 39 available votes at the World Rugby Council meeting on November 15th, only eight went to Ireland, with France then securing the 2023 tournament ahead of second-placed South Africa.
That bid process alone had cost €3.25 million, around €1.75m coming from the IRFU and €1.25 from the Government (the Northern Ireland government contributing around €250,000). Despite the end result, Ross sees no reason why the Government wouldn’t support future bids – possibly even for the 2027 World Cup when that next comes round.
“No, because what I think that bid found was quite conclusive,” he said, “that Ireland’s bid was a very, very good bid, and that we were capable of hosting it. They actually specifically said we were capable of hosting a World Cup.
“So no it wouldn’t put you off. We were disappointed. We hoped to win, certainly. But it wouldn’t discourage me from making bids in the future, because I think the country would have benefitted so much from that bid. But we’ve proved to be well up there, were only narrowly beaten in the end.”
In fact, Ireland’s bid appeared doomed once the independent technical review, carried out by World Rugby, placed it third among the three bidding nations.
Despite the promise of a US audience comprising largely the Irish diaspora, what ultimately won out was the promise of modern stadiums and technology; while the Irish bid also met World Rugby’s stated target of a €120m tournament fee, this was trumped by both the French and South African bids, promising fees of €170m and €180m, respectively.
Given that the 2023 tournament has gone to a European nation, Ireland’s chances of hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup would appear to be doomed from the outset. However Ross didn’t rule out supporting a future bid, if or when they might come up for discussion, as that bidding process won’t be decided until 2022.
Worthy winners
“It’s a bit too early to say. But we’ve proven we’re worthy of competing, and that we would have been worthy winners, so no, it wouldn’t put me off from doing it again. But that would be a matter for the IRFU. It wouldn’t be a matter for the Government.”
Speaking at the announcement of €56m in allocations under the 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme, which will benefit 1,726 different sporting clubs and projects, Ross also indicated that full Government funding for the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) would likely be restored by the end of the year.
An outstanding 2016 amount of around €100,000 was paid out in September, but some €300,000 in funding for 2017 had been withheld pending the outcome of the Moran enquiry in the Rio Olympic ticketing scandal, and the OCI’s controversial relationship with their Authorised Ticket Reseller THG.
Last month, the OCI announced it had reached a confidential agreement to break its contract with the British company, clearing the way, it seems, towards the restoring of full Government funding.
“We’re very well disposed towards the Olympic Council of Ireland,” said Ross, “and we’re very eager that we should be able to fund them again, as soon as possible. It will be a decision that will be made before the end of the year, that’s what we’re looking at.”
Ross however declined to comment on whether or not former OCI president Pat Hickey might still be held accountable for his alleged role in the controversy, if only before an Oireachtas Committee.
Hickey’s trial in Rio was due to begin on November 29th, but was suspended by the Brazilian Supreme Court, after it was decided an injunction to suspend the case, granted to THG executive Kevin Mallon, “extends to all of the accused in this process”, including Hickey.
“I’m not going to make any comment on something which might prejudice the trial, or event of that sort, any legal issue which might affect a trial in Brazil,” said Ross. “It would be irresponsible to do so.”
The OCI will next week present a new Strategic Plan for 2017-2024, which is expected to include details of a new Authorised Ticket Reseller.
