Rugby: Celtic 2023 World Cup bid mooted

Irish Rugby’s chief executive Philip Browne has put his country at the heart of possible tendering which must take place by the end of next year, with the successful applicant being confirmed in 2014.

Browne is quoted on the possibility of a bid in today’s Irish media.

“Our existing facilities would be adequate in terms of the quality of the facilities, there just isn’t enough of them,” he said. “There’s also options if we were going to host it whether we would hold it only in Ireland or include Scotland and Wales.”

That was a reference to the likelihood of a request to the Gaelic Games Association for another leasing of their stadium at Croke Park which hosted rugby internationals while Lansdowne Road (now the Aviva Stadium) was being re-developed.

Scotland were at the forefront of framing a Celtic bid for the 2015 World Cup but eventually withdrew due to the £100 million price tag. England will host the event.

n Boroughmuir/Gillespie’s defeated Queen Victoria, Dunblane, 36-14 to win the Brewin Dolphin under-18 Bowl at Murrayfield last night.

Full back Jordan Edmunds had two of the combined side’s five tries on the way to a 19-point haul and man-of-the-match honours. Centre Grant Burberry also struck twice.