Varadkar grateful for May’s support as Ireland bid to host World Cup

Prime Minister Theresa May has given her backing to Ireland’s bid to host the World Cup in 2023.

Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed that May has written to the Rugby World Cup organisation, affirming the United Kingdom’s support for the 2023 bid.

Varadkar, inset, was the only state figurehead attending in person as Ireland, France and South Africa presented their bids to stage the tournament in London yesterday. President Emmanuel Macron has distanced himself from France’s bid, declining to provide a video message as previously promised, while the French paraded support from the late All Black wing Jonah Lomu’s sons in their pitch.

“She [ Theresa May] has written to World Rugby, supporting our bid and assuring them that the United Kingdom government is behind it too,” said Varadkar. “And I’m very grateful for the fact that she’s done that.”

France made the bold claim that their bid would generate the most revenue for organisers Rugby World Cup. Varadkar said of those claims: “We would say otherwise. Our bid is fully backed by the government.”

Former Ireland captain Brian O’driscoll hailed Varadkar’s personal appearance, while musician and political activist Bob Geldof and U2 singer Bono provided messages of support in a stirring video presentation. “It’s massively important and it shows the seriousness of our pitch,” said O’driscoll of Varadkar’s appearance. Ireland were able to allay organisers’ concerns around the impact of Brexit, with a great deal of uncertainty still surrounding the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, and Varadkar threw his weight behind Ireland’s cross-government pledge to underwrite the entire cost of staging the 2023 tournament.

“I pointed out while there is plenty of uncertainty, one thing that is certain is that the common travel area will remain in place,” said Varadkar. “Our bid makes sense not just for rugby but also for the Irish taxpayer and the Irish economy. We’ve agreed that we’ll underwrite the tournament costs.”