A Rugby League World Cup 2013 game, could be played in Thomond Park. Well, that is the plan anyway. Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau have teamed up with Rugby League Ireland and Thomond Park to launch a bid for Limerick’s right to host games in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. The official ‘Back the Bid – Limerick 2013’ campaign was launched this week in Thomond Park with a call for the people of Limerick to support the bid and help secure yet another high profile sporting event for the region.
The 2013 Rugby League World Cup is being hosted by England and Wales but the opportunity exists for Ireland to play one or more home games should the right city bid be put forward.
The draw has already been made with Ireland facing matches with England, Australia & Fiji. If Limerick was to be awarded host city status, the possibility of the tie with Australia being played in Limerick would be a real possibility.
Speaking at the ‘Back the Bid – Limerick 2013’ launch, Gordon Matthews, General Manager, Rugby League Ireland, explained, “Ireland had a very successful 2008 World Cup in Australia and we are hoping to build on that success further in 2013, preferably with the help of some passionate home support. We are delighted therefore that due to help of Shannon Development, The Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau and Thomond Park that we are in a position to put forward an impressive case to the organising committee to play one or more of our group games in Limerick and specifically Thomond Park. The boost to Rugby League in Ireland to potentially host the likes of Australia or Fiji in a venue such as Thomond Park would be enormous and we are very hopeful that our bid will be successful.”
Karen Brosnahan, Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau believes Limerick has all the right attributes to become a host city for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. She explained, “Limerick has not just a hugely passionate sporting public but also has fantastic sporting and social facilities which are renowned worldwide. The combination of these elements play a huge role in winning the World Cup host city bidding process which will be decided in November. The opportunity to further increase the profile of Limerick as the ultimate sporting destination to a worldwide audience through the Rugby League World Cup is something we are hoping to grab with two hands”
Those wishing to support the campaign to secure Limerick’s status as a host city can do so at the ‘Back the Bid – Limerick 2013’ Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/backthebidlimerick2013.
