SHANE McGRATH
MONEY TALKS IN BID FOR 2023 WORLD CUP
‘IN THE END THIS WILL NOT BE WON BY POETRY OR PANPIPES ’
BOB GELDOF isn’t enough. That news will surprise those who for 30 years would have argued Geldof was more than enough.
But voluble sermonising isn’t the subject at hand. In trying to ensure Ireland are chosen as hosts of the 2023 World Cup, playing the cultural game as illustrated by the use of Geldof this week, is not going to be enough.
Poetry and un-brushed hair dominated the clip he starred in, but the real reason for Geldof’s involvement was to boast of the 70 million in the Irish diaspora ready to evangelise on rugby’s behalf.
This is an unconvincing sales line, with the implication being that the millions of, say, North Americans claiming Irish heritage could have a love for rugby activated by a World Cup held here.
The US is the prey that rugby administrators want to trap above all others, but it would require some investment in trust on behalf of the game’s stakeholders to give Ireland the 2023 tournament and then expect second and third-generation Irish people living thousands of miles away to take inspiration and start spreading the word about a sport that is a minority one in the land of their ancestors, let alone their own one.
The Geldof video came 10 months after ‘Ireland: Ready for the World’, the clip narrated in rumbling, dusty Old Testament tones by Liam Neeson.
This repeated the word ‘world’ line after line, and celebrated Ireland’s ability to become relevant despite hanging on to the western edge of Europe. The video sought to illustrate Irish importance by, among other means, highlighting the many global tech companies who, through ruthless management of their taxation responsibilities, have based themselves in this country.
It was a fascinating but hollow pitch. These packages do not, of course, constitute the details of the Irish bid, the minutiae of which appear to have met with widespread approval.
What they do, though, is set the soundtrack for Ireland’s ambitions, and on both counts they failed to understand the greatest strength we have: our willingness to plough with head-first enthusiasm into any big event.
We love nothing more. It has long been the contention here that ours is a nation of fans, rather than supporters. That is why it is possible to easily access any GAA match in the country until September, by which time the expectation around the Championship is so great peo- ple would go to alarming lengths to secure tickets for the All-Ireland finals.
It is why the domestic soccer league is largely ignored but the Premier League commands huge attention. It is why a sport like athletics is practically an underground pursuit until the Olympic Games come around.
And none of this is a criticism. Money is hard-earned and those making it can spend it as they wish.
However, it also means that Irish people are eager to mobilise for big occasions, and the Rugby World Cup would be a marvellous one.
While the Government guaranteeing the tournament fee required of the successful bidder — it is in excess of €135 million — is regarded as vital to the Irish case, it is only the start of the money conversation.
France have pledged at least €150 million, and South Africa have gone €10 million better than that. Last month, an IRFU statement said they were confident ‘that their financial offer will be the largest delivered to World Rugby, and the most secure, thanks to the unrivalled commitment of the governments of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland’.
The 2015 World Cup in England is understood to have generated over €170 million for World Rugby, a figure that includes the tournament fee.
And that is the language through which the Irish bid should be communicated, rather than twee rhymes and toora-loora-lay mistiness about our place in the world. Money settles these matters, and so ticket sales are critical.
There is official expectation of tens of thousands of visitors coming from around the world, but that cannot be taken for granted, any more than the promises of hoteliers not to fleece tourists can be accepted, either.
The health of the Irish bid depends on making games attractive for the Irish people themselves, on pricing matches so that families, especially those not necessarily of a rugby persuasion but living in Cork or Galway or Limerick, can be tempted to go along.
Satisfaction with the presentation made by Ireland to the World Rugby Council this week was generally reported, but this will not be won by poetry or panpipes.
Money will decide it — and making that depends on encouraging locals to turn out.