Rugby World Cup comes to Brighton & Hove
England Rugby 2015 (ER 2015), Tournament Organisers, and Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), Tournament Owners, today announced the full list of Match Venues and published the Match Schedule for Rugby World Cup 2015, hosted in England.
Brighton & Hove has been chosen as a venue for the Rugby World Cup 2015. The matches will be played at the state of the art Brighton Community Stadium.
The council and Brighton & Hove Albion football club worked together on the successful bid which will see the city hosting the Rugby World Cup.
The 13 Match Venues and Host Cities selected are: Twickenham Stadium (London), Wembley Stadium (London), Olympic Stadium (London), Millennium Stadium (Cardiff), Manchester City Stadium (Manchester), St James’ Park (Newcastle), Elland Road (Leeds), Leicester City Stadium (Leicester), Villa Park (Birmingham), Kingsholm Stadium (Gloucester), stadiummk (Milton Keynes), Brighton Community Stadium (Brighton) and Sandy Park (Exeter).
Taking the game to ten cities across the country enables England Rugby 2015 to showcase the game to a large audience across the length and breadth of the country. The Match Schedule will see 25 matches played in dedicated Rugby venues, seven in multi-event stadia and 16 in football venues. This blend of stadia will provide a variety of Rugby World Cup match day experiences and over two million opportunities for fans to engage with one of the world’s most recognisable major sports events.
Brighton & Hove has a strong tourism economy which will benefit from the matches – there is an abundance of budget and quality accommodation, more restaurants per head of population than any other city outside of London and a wide range of attractions and cultural opportunities for spectators to explore. Brighton & Hove’s night time economy is famously vibrant and the city is welcoming to visitors boasting a strong reputation for embracing and celebrating diversity.
Former World Cup Player Maggie Alphonsi MBE was at Brighton Community Stadium for the announcement; she has amassed 63 England caps, played in two XVs World Cups and in 2012 shared in a record-breaking seventh consecutive Six Nations title and a sixth Grand Slam in seven years.
Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, Jason Kitcat, said; “I’m thrilled that we are hosting such a prestigious event. It’s great that the joint bid between the city council and Brighton & Hove Albion football club has been successful. We have a strong track record of delivering major sporting events. The Rugby World Cup will bring thousands of visitors to Sussex who will be able to experience our fantastic cultural offering as well as our hotels and restaurants.”
Brighton and Hove Albion Football club executive director, Martin Perry, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that the stadium and city has been chosen as a host venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and are now relishing the prospect of hosting four teams and two matches at one of the world's biggest sporting events.
"Right from the outset when we were planning the stadium, we recognised that the need for a new permanent home for Brighton & Hove Albion could also create an opportunity for new facilities to meet the wider sporting and community needs in Brighton, Hove and the South of England.
"We promised that the stadium, more than any other building, would have the ability to shape a city, it puts the city on the map, has the power to change people lives and represents a community's pride and aspirations.
"Our successful joint bid is just another legacy of that promise. Rugby fans in this area will be able to play their part in a global occasion which is going to put the stadium and Brighton & Hove on the world stage.
"We have two years to wait, but we are looking forward to providing a fabulous spectator experience and hope we can help provide many memories of what promises to be a truly unforgettable event.”
Notes to Editors
The Tournament will open at Twickenham Stadium on Friday September 18, 2015, where England will face Oceania 1, confirmed at the close of the Qualification process in 2014. In addition to a selection of Pool games, Twickenham Stadium will also host two Quarter-Finals, the Semi-Finals and the Final on October 31. Two Quarter Finals will also be played in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium and the Bronze Final will be hosted at the Olympic Stadium.
Confirmation of the Match Venues and Match Schedule follows approval from the Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) Board and an extensive and thorough evaluation process, undertaken by England Rugby 2015 in collaboration with tournament owners RWCL, Host Broadcaster ITV, and commercial stakeholders.
The 13 Match Venues selected from the long list of 17 named in October 2012, plus Sandy Park added last month and the Manchester City Stadium which replaces Old Trafford, took into account geographical spread, sporting and facilities criteria, support from host cities, and capacity requirements to deliver the best possible platform for a fully engaging world class Tournament for fans and teams.
England Rugby 2015 also launched the vision for Rugby World Cup 2015 today outlining the Tournament as a celebration of Rugby and its unique values, exciting and inspiring our nation and the world to play and support the game.
England Rugby 2015 Chief Executive, Debbie Jevans, commented: “The world can now start planning for Rugby World Cup 2015. Today, we’ve brought the Tournament to life, announcing the Match Venues and the full Match Schedule. In less than two and a half years time, we will be welcoming the world to England and to a celebration of Rugby, played in a range of atmospheric stadiums right across the country. Rugby has so much to offer – and over the next two and a half years, we will be working hard with RWCL to deliver a Tournament which celebrates the unique values of Rugby and excites and inspires the nation and the world to play and support the game. The countdown to 2015 begins in earnest today and we look forward to welcoming the world to England in 2015.
“We are very grateful to all the cities and venues who have been part of the selection process for Rugby World Cup 2015. The support and interest shown by Coventry, Bristol, Derby, Southampton and Sunderland has been excellent and, whilst they have not been selected to host, we will continue to build upon the relationships forged throughout this process to ensure that these cities will still play a part in this truly nationwide tournament.”
RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset commented: “The delivery of the Match Schedule and Match Venues in collaboration with England Rugby 2015 is an important milestone for what promises to be a truly spectacular Rugby World Cup. Through this rigorous process we have been able to develop solid foundations for the best tournament experience for all participating teams, the host nation and the global Rugby community.
“We have also worked hard with all stakeholders to deliver a Match Schedule that is fair and balanced for all teams and that will provide the stage for the world’s finest players from 20 nations to perform to the best of their ability during a six week festival of world class Rugby.”
“Rugby World Cup 2015 is about opportunity. It is the promise of more than 2 million opportunities to engage with one of the world's biggest major sports events. It is the opportunity to engage new fans the length and breadth of the country and to grow Rugby around the world in order that more men, women and children may experience the sport and its character-building values. It is set to be an exceptional event for the teams, the fans, the host nation, and the continued development of Rugby worldwide.”
Minister for Sport and Tourism, Hugh Robertson commented, “Rugby World Cup in 2015 is another great global sports event coming to the UK. It has the full backing of Government and will be fantastic for Rugby in this country encouraging more people to get involved. There is also a great tourism opportunity to make the most of with matches being played across the country.”
Notes to Editors
Rugby World Cup 2015 Match Venues and Host Cities:
- Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton & Hove – 30,750
- Manchester City Stadium, Manchester – 47,800
- Elland Road, Leeds – 37,914
- Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester – 16,115
- Leicester City Stadium, Leicester – 32,312
- Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – 74,154
- Olympic Stadium, London – 54,000
- Sandy Park, Exeter – 12,300
- Stadiummk, Milton Keynes – 30,717
- St James’ Park, Newcastle- 52,409
- Twickenham Stadium, London - 81,605
- Villa Park, Birmingham – 42,785
- Wembley Stadium, London – 90,256
Tickets:
Tickets for the 2015 Tournament will go on sale in 2014.
Media Enquiries:
All Rugby World Cup 2015 media enquiries, including venues related matter, should be made through the England Rugby 2015 press office using the contact details below.
Rights free images and footage of today’s announcement is available via ross.watson@fourcommunications.com / 07921 163782