Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau today announced that Limerick has been named as a host venue for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. After submitting a strong bid, Limerick beat off stiff competition from rival applications across Europe to stage matches in the 14-nation tournament in two years’ time. The RFL today confirmed that the Limerick bid has been accepted and that a World Cup game will be played at the iconic Thomond Park Stadium.
The Limerick bid organisers are Adam Skerritt, Shannon Development & Karen Brosnahan, Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau. Speaking of their delight at receiving the good news Karen Brosnahan said, “This is a fantastic day for Limerick, the Shannon Region, Thomond Park, Rugby League Ireland & the Irish sporting public. Today’s announcement by the RFL is the ideal conclusion to an intensive 12 month campaign that was built on showcasing Limerick’s superb sporting infrastructure & our superbly passionate sporting people. ”
Adam Skerritt added, “For Shannon Development, the Bureau & Rugby League Ireland to secure Limerick host venue status for a global event the size & scale of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup is massive coup. It also a major endorsement of Limerick’s ever growing reputation as a world class sporting destination. We now look forward to working with all our regional partners to deliver a host city experience to remember for players and spectators alike in 2013.”
2013 Rugby League World Cup Tournament Director Nigel Wood said: “I would like to congratulate the entire Limerick Bid Team who have been successful in their bid to host matches in what I am confident will be a World Cup that will help to enhance Rugby League’s ever growing popularity in Ireland.
“We experienced massive interest in hosting matches from all across Europe and the bidding process proved to be hugely competitive.
“In putting together their bid over the last 12 months, Shannon Development & the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau have demonstrated a level of commitment that gives us confidence that the 2013 Rugby League World Cup will exceed everyone’s expectations.
“It has been a fantastic and inspiring bidding process and we have been extremely impressed with the quality, detail and diverse nature of the host bids received.”
Today’s announcement outlines 18 different venues which will stage matches and reveals six other venues which will host teams during the tournament. Details of host fixtures and venues for the opening ceremony, the semi-finals and the final will be confirmed early in the New Year.
A total of 34 bids, comprising 30 stadia, 47 team training sites and 87 team base camps, were submitted to the RFL. Each of the bidding hosts underwent a detailed inspection from a 2013 team to examine the various sites venue specifications, as well as evaluating the enthusiasm and commitment of each bidding host.
Upwards of half a million people are expected to watch the 28 matches live over a six-week period in the autumn of 2013 with a further 20 million viewers from 120 countries tuning in around the world.
