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City celebrates Rugby World Cup success
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News release: Courtesy of Leicester City Council Press Office 30/07/2009
NEWS that England will host the 2015 Rugby World Cup has been welcomed by the team behind Leicester’s 2018 FIFA World Cup bid.
Welford Road will host at least one game during the six week-long tournament – and the Leicester Tigers’ success in procuring World Cup rugby has given a boost to those working on the city’s football World Cup bid.
“It’s extraordinary to think that England will host the Olympics in 2012 and the Rugby World Cup just three years later,” said city council leader, Cllr Ross Willmott.
“If England wins the right to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup, it would complete an unprecedented decade of sport in this country.
“I’m delighted that Leicester will be hosting World Cup rugby in 2015 and I warmly congratulate the Leicester Tigers on their success. This news will give a real boost to everyone who’s been working hard on Leicester’s bid to be a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”
David Clayton, Leicester Tigers’ managing director, said: “We are delighted that the 2015 Rugby World Cup is coming to England and we are proud at Leicester Tigers to be part of the successful bid.
“The construction of the new Caterpillar Stand is the first phase of the redevelopment of Welford Road, and it will be great to host some of the 3,000,000 fans expected to attend the World Cup in 2015.
“It would be fantastic for Leicester if the city was also to be a host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and we hope this news can help the bid.”
The Guinness Premiership champions have already given their backing to Leicester’s FIFA World Cup bid by offering their facilities to the bid team.
Their Welford Road stadium and training facilities at Oadby have both been included in Leicester’s outline bid, which was delivered to the England 2018 team earlier this month.
The final bid will be submitted on November 6th, with the successful host cities expected to be announced in December.
People wanting to support the city’s bid are being urged to choose Leicester as their preferred host city on the England 2018 bid website.
Votes for Leicester can be cast at www.england2018bid.com
Although the public vote alone won’t secure Leicester’s place amongst the cities that will host World Cup games, local enthusiasm will be a major factor for the Football Association (FA) when it chooses its partner cities for England’s bid.
More information about Leicester’s bid is available at www.backleicestersbid.com
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