World Cup would be huge boost

FOR the week that’s in it, it’s all about Ireland’s Rugby World Cup bid for 2023, and I don’t think it can be overstated how important it would be to get a tournament like that to this little island, writes David Wallace.

It would be fantastic to put us on the map like that and there would be much more to it than just the games on the pitch, too.

Even the build-up to it, the six years beforehand would be full of wonder and promise.

It’s amazing to think the international clout that Ireland has considering it is a small island on the edge of Europe, but the performances on the world stage, across the sporting spectrum, put us there.

There are so many influential people emanating from Ireland and of course the ancestry that is dotted all over the planet mean Irish people are always greeted well on their travels.

But bringing a tournament like the Rugby World Cup here would change everything.

Tourism would receive a massive boost and, with Brexit and everything else that is going on at the moment, it would be such a timely lift.

The infrastructure is also likely to get a big cash injection and all in all the tournament would have so many positive lasting effects.

Let’s just hope we now beat off the competition from France and South Africa.