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The potential of Pairc Esler as a venue for a future Rugby World Cup game has been mentioned previously on Newry.ie and today Irish Rugby legend Hugo MacNeill has been announced as chair of a group being set up to establish how a bid for the Rugby World Cup in 2023 could be made.
Hugo MacNeill played for Ireland 37 times between 1981 and 1988, as well as the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 and the 1983 Lions tour to New Zealand.
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster and Sports Minister Carál Ní Chulín met with the former rugby player to discuss what work is required before a decision is taken to propose a formal bid to both the Northern Ireland Executive and the Republic of Ireland government.
Last month, Arlene Foster and Carál Ní Chulín met Leo Varadkar TD and Michael Ring TD to examine how best to take proposals forward and it was decided that the working group will be made up of the key bodies associated with preparing a successful bid. The group will report back to both governments in a few months for agreement on moving forward to prepare a formal bid for the 2023 World Cup.
