Friday 3 July 2015 13:52, UK
Ireland is one of four nations to formally express an interest in hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Fellow-European nations France and Italy also confirmed their interest by the June 15 deadline along with South Africa, but there was no formal bid from the United States.
The final selection will not be made until May 2017, long after England has hosted this year's tournament and some way through preparations for the 2019 tournament, which will break new ground in Japan.
World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “We are delighted with the strong level of 2023 hosting interest from unions and governments, which highlights the enormous appeal of Rugby World Cup as a low-risk, high-return economic, social and sporting driver.
"We look forward to further detailed dialogue as the process progresses.
“Although USA Rugby ultimately decided not to proceed with a formal bid, it was very encouraging that they originally had expressed an interest in hosting rugby’s flagship tournament.
"In the end, they decided to focus instead on other upcoming projects, not least the hosting of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018, but they are an ambitious and progressive union and I have no doubt they will bid to host Rugby World Cup at some point in the future.”
Rugby World Cup tournament director Alan Gilpin added: “The candidate hosts now have a year to benefit from detailed knowledge-sharing and preparation, including digesting the detailed tender requirements and observing Rugby World Cup 2015 hosting, before the confirmation to tender deadline of June 2016.
“The announcement of the Rugby World Cup 2023 host in May 2017 will also provide the successful union with six years to prepare for the delivery of the event and maximise the benefits of observing the delivery of Japan 2019, the first Rugby World Cup to be hosted in Asia."
