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Keith Wood on Ireland World Cup bid effect: "This could be the new Gathering, new Wild Atlantic Way"

On Monday, Ireland, France and South Africa took another step forward in their three-pronged batt...



Keith Wood on Ireland World Cu...
Videos

Keith Wood on Ireland World Cup bid effect: "This could be the new Gathering, new Wild Atlantic Way"

On Monday, Ireland, France and South Africa took another step forward in their three-pronged battle for the right to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 

With the presentations now made, there is some optimism around the Irish bid, although as Eddie O'Sullivan put it on Monday, the French provide a formidable opponent.

Former Ireland captain Keith Wood and The Irish Times' Gerry Thornley, who was in London as the bid presentations were made (watch the video above for his thoughts, particularly on the French bid presentation), joined us to discuss the latest stage in the process.

For Keith, the long term legacy is something that Ireland needs to harness.  

Keith Wood on Ireland World Cup bid effect: "This could be the new Gathering, new Wild Atlantic Way"

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"The one element I would say in terms of this and how it actually pops out at the end is I would look at Ireland and see it as if we can get this right from the government perspective, if we get it right in terms of how we pitch this over an eight year period, a few years coming up to it and a few years after it, this could be the best, this could be the new Gathering or Wild Atlantic Way, this could be the new tourism drive that Ireland can have and then you're looking at what does the legacy become," he said.

"All the previous ones, it's been legacy to rugby. I think when the country picks up the tab, I think the country needs to take the legacy out of it so we'll have enhanced stadias for GAA and some in rugby. But it's how can we incorporate  more in terms of the tourism of Ireland within what the World Cup can bring to Ireland over that period of time before, during and after. It can have a substantive return for Ireland."

He added that Ireland's bid looks good and believes "we can deliver the best of the lot".

But in terms of winning, given that no decision is close to being made, Keith is remaining cautiously optimistic.

"I wouldn't be putting us as favourites or anything like that. I think everybody's getting a little bit carried away with that because it comes down to making certain that you have 20 votes out of the 39 and that becomes the only factor," he said.      

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