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With the IRFU working on attracting the 2023 Rugby World Cup to Ireland and the Irish Government and the NI Executive discussing a joint Bid for the competition it's certainly an interesting time for local Rugby fans and there is no reason that Newry couldn't get in on the action. As one GAA stalwart commented "A massive opportunity exists in the making for Newry City as a whole"
As well as Aviva and Ravenhill and other Rugby grounds around the island the GAA have already expressed an interest in providing venues including Croke Park but what about Newry's own Pairc Esler?
With a capacity of 20,000 Pairc Esler can cater for more fans than Ulster Rugby's newly developed Ravenhill grounds and certainly is well capable of hosting a game having hosted non GAA events including Concerts in the recent past.
The next Rugby World Cup will be held in England in 2015 with some of the matches in small stadiums including Kingsholm in Gloucester, 16,500 and Sandy Park in Exeter, 11,000!
New Zealand's 2011 competition was played in stadiums including the 20,000 capacity Trafalgar Park, 18,000 capacity Arena Manawatu and the 17.000 capacity Rugby Park Stadium.
For a bid to be made to host a game the GAA Central Council would need to put Pairc Esler forward as a venue for one of the games and gain approval fro both the GAA Executive and the Rugby World Cup governing body.
Commenting on the possibility of Newry hosting a game Hilltown native John Matthews who is in Sydney at present said "The County Down GAA board should seriously push the Central GAA Council to put (forward) Pairc Esler in Newry as a venue to host a group stage game of the rugby world cup if staged in Ireland in 2023. A massive opportunity exists in the making for Newry City as a whole."
Our local Council and the Chamber of Commerce could certainly put forward a case on Commercial grounds and the feel good factor resulting would certainly last for years to come.
Other countries in with a shout as well as countries that have expressed an interest in bidding include Argentina, Italy, America/ Canada jointly and Russia.
