Edinburgh Rugby Supporters Club

[biffer]

Ten nations have expressed an interest in hosting the '15 and '19 world cups

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7564403.stm

Some interesting ones in there, Russia and Jamaica for example. Good to see the SRU have expressed an interest in both. I think that one of them will defo go to Japan, given the way they had 2011 nicked from under them. I think they'll get 2015 and then it'll be back to an old rugby nation, hopefully Ireland, in 2019.

[Baggage]

Would be a disaster if Scotland got it.

[djphilp]

Japan 2015 and Canada 2019 would be my choices.

Scotland haven't the infrastructure to host any international sports at present.

[Oldsalt]

It has been widely reported that the IRB require guarantees of between £100 - £120 million pounds just to hold the event.

Given the current state of the SRU's finances if Scotland was able to stump up the required amount then Mr McKie is certainly a miracle worker and should not be running the SRU but UK plc.

[Martin Bell]

On that reasoning, Japan is a dead cert. I would like to see it go to another "developing" rugby nation after them. Russia would be a bold choice, but I would have thought a joint US-Canada tournament would have a lot going for it.

I attended the Heineken final in Dublin a few years back. It was an unmitigated disaster - easily the worst organised of the finals I've been to - and the locals were conspicuous by their absence. Even the SRU managed to generate double the attendance for a subsequent final involving two French clubs. Given their failure to come up with the goods for the Euro 2008 bid, I doubt that Ireland would be able to produce enough quality stadia in any case. I would not trust the IRU with hosting the World Cup.

[Tarquin]

I think it would be a shot in the arm for Japan and a great tournament as well as an excuse to go on a trip to a place ive always wanted to.

On Russia i would pay a lot of money to see what would happen if they drew georgia.

[Blutto]

By rights it should be NH in 2015 and SH in 2019.

That would mean Japan in 2019 (they seem to be classed as a NH team for reasons that are obscure) and therefore in 2015, that could mean England or Italy. A combined Ireland/Scotland tornament seems fanciful.

Can't see Russia getting it at the moment in the current political climate

Anyone fancy a trip to Jamaica?

[jimc]

[Jon]

I think he means they are deemed Southern Hemisphere

I believe the reasons are more televisual!

[Blutto]

Yes, I meant SH.

Perhaps it is because they are closer to Aus & NZ.