Ireland make bid to host the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup
Monday 2 March 2015 15:14, UK
The Irish Rugby Football Union has lodged a bid to stage the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup in Dublin and in Belfast.
The IRFU revealed its plans to host the pool stages of the tournament at University College Dublin before switching to Belfast for the semi-finals at Queens University Sport and the Kingspan Stadium, where the final would also be held.
IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said: "Interest and participation in women's rugby continues to grow and building on this momentum we believe Ireland can deliver the best Women's Rugby World Cup to date.
"It will be a great opportunity for Ireland to showcase sport and to get more women and girls to consider taking up a team sport."
"We hope that the growing interest in women's rugby in Ireland, world leading facilities at UCD, Queens University Sport, Kingspan Stadium and our internationally recognised reputation for being one of the world's most welcoming nations will make an Irish bid the stand out submission for the 2017 tournament."
IRFU Women's Rugby Ambassador Fiona Coghlan said: "The development and profile of women's sport has been fantastic in recent years and it will be a great opportunity for Ireland to showcase sport and to get more women and girls
to consider taking up a team sport."
Ireland finished fourth in the 2014 World Cup after losing to England, who went on to lift the trophy after beating Canada 21-9 in the final in Paris.
