Machale park in rugby world cup venue bid

THE Mayo and Galway county GAA boards are locked in an intriguing battle to seal a Rugby World Cup 2023 bonanza.

And monitoring the duel as it unfolds from the sidelines is Westport Dáil Deputy Michael Ring, the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, who is involved in spearheading the application to stage the prestigious tournament in Ireland in nine years’ time.

Both Elverys MacHale Park in Castlebar and Pearse Stadium in Galway, which are owned by the respective county boards, are in strong contention to be selected as match venues by the International Rugby Board when it makes its decision in 18 months’ time. But the likelihood of the two stadiums being chosen in the final shake-up is understood to be improbable due to other interests at stake throughout the four provinces, leaving the rival county boards in a straight contest to secure a selection that is expected to be worth €20 million to their local economies.

Elverys MacHale Park has the edge on Pearse Stadium in terms of its additional seating capacity. The Castlebar venue can seat 38,000 spectators compared to 32,000 in the Salthill-based stadium.

Minister Ring has confirmed that the committee appointed to study the feasibility of Ireland submitting an application for the RWC had lodged its report with him and his senior department officials. It has also been revealed that the International Rugby Federation carried out ground inspections at the two venues and they were both adjudged to have met the criteria to host world cup games.