Derry has been named in the final 12 cities bidding to stage games in the 2023 World Cup, according to reports.
Derry City and Strabane District Council has been working with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Derry GAA with the view to hosting group games at Celtic Park.
With the deadline for the submission of formal bids to host the 2023 tournament falling next month, media reports in the Republic have named Derry and Celtic Park on the final list of 12 stadia being proposed for the event wirh the Derry venue replacing the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick – which, along with Thomond Park, was one of two stadiums in that city included in the original proposed venue list.
Steve Bradley, spokesperson for the “Derry for 2023,” the group leading the Derry campaign, said: “If reports that Derry has made the final list are true, then this is fantastic news for our city.”
However, he added a note of caution: “Being included in Ireland’;s bid to host the 2023 RWC is not the end of the fight – it’s only the beginning.
“ Firstly, everyone in the North West now needs to support the IRFU in their efforts to show the world that Ireland is the right place to hold the tournament in 2023.
“And, secondly, we need to fight for the infrastructure improvements needed if the Irish bid succeeds, and for a commitment on them now.
“In particular, we need to demand that long-overdue transport projects like the A5, A6 and the railway improvements are accelerated.
“How else would visitors be expected to get to Derry if the Irish bid succeeds ?
“And it also presents an opportunity to push again for the expansion of Magee University – with student accommodation providing much-needed bed spaces for any major international sports event held here.
“It isn’t good enough to wait until we hear next year if the Irish bid has been successful or not.
“We need to use Derry’s inclusion in the bid to ensure that the button gets pushed on these crucial improvements for our city now.”.
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