Possibility: Millennium Stadium
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The Welsh Rugby Union have suggested that Wales could host England at the Millennium Stadium in their 2015 World Cup showdown.
England and Wales were drawn together with Australia and two as yet unnamed teams in Pool A, already labelled the Group of Death.
The Millennium Stadium was included in England's original bid document and could be used for the tournament and the Welsh say they want to play host to the actual tournament hosts.
And tournament organisers England Rugby 2015 have refused to rule out the possibility that England will have to go to Cardiff to play the match.
"It is very important to remember that Wales was included in the England's bid for matches in the Millennium Stadium,"said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis.
"What was pencilled in (for the Millennium Stadium) was eight games and the Welsh government and Cardiff city council would provide financial support to the tune of £1.4m.
"The UK treasury supported the under-writing of the competition and of course Wales is still part of the United Kingdom.
"We would be very welcoming hosts. The discussions will now begin. I think they (England) would embrace the opportunity to play in the finest rugby stadium in the world.
"I think everything must be up for discussion because it is the finest rugby stadium in the world."
Organisers ER2015 will spend the next three months deciding which matches will be played at which stadia.
"Roger has invited us, which is very kind of him. I am not going to say one way or the other," said ER2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans.
"At this point I am not ruling anything out an I am not ruling anything in. I understand where Roger is coming from. He is pushing for as many games as possible to be in Cardiff. I don't hold that against him.
"Now we know what the draw is we can go away and look at the appropriate venues for the appropriate matches."
Comments
lawynd says...
@jontheref - I had no idea that even existed, interesting!
Posted 10:42 07th December 2012
jontheref says...
lawynd
The contract between the English RU andf the WRU over the bid England submitted.
Posted 17:54 06th December 2012
melkdave says...
@Jontheref
Believe me if i thought any post on any blog or forum ,would influance the decision makers in any feild ,it would be a good thing.Unfortunatly they dont ,i just feel that as its England only hosting we should be able to do it without help ,from other unions ,and im sure if SW England had a permiership football team ,the MS wouldnt even be on the shortlist,but alas it doesnt and so it is.Im also sure if the WRU was hosting they to would want to use only welsh stadia,if possible which it is ,if you throw in a couple of football stadia ie Wrexham maybe to go along with the liberty,and new parc y scarlets and the new one in notrh Wales ect.I
Posted 17:43 05th December 2012
jose_jones says...
It's hysterical how a tongue in cheek comment to local media with a big grin on his face can be taken so seriously,... Wind them up and watch them go.!!
He really isn't the naive clown you all seem to think he is,.. I know he's Welsh but he can read and write and everything,...!!!
Posted 11:27 05th December 2012
OzinLondon says...
jamesliveinhope
You are right. When I mentioned "buying" home advantage I meant by way of voting for the bid (although they no doubt chuck some money in the coffers too).
I think it would be great to see the tournament only in England but the Millenium Stadium is too good a resource not to use. The organisers should just have some balls and say that Wales won't get the benefit of it unless they make the final rounds.
Posted 10:12 05th December 2012
lawynd says...
@jontheref - what 'contract' is this you speak of? Given that the curent list of stadia is only a shortlist, the Millenium may not even make the cut from what I can see, although I'm sure it will.
@OzinLondon - So European nations shouldn't be allowed to co-host? I would suggest that Australia and New Zealand set the precedent in 1987, and from memory would have again in 2003 if the NZRFU hadn't demanded an excessive slice of the pie.
Posted 10:01 05th December 2012
Jediboy says...
I don't think this will happen. It's such a crazy and arrogant idea, it can't possibly be considered as a realistic possibility. I understand why the Welsh have played this little game, but it's pointless. England should have home advantage for their games, even if England 2015 did want to use the MS.
But as has been mentioned, the RFU don't need financial help, especially if all the WRU can afford is £1.4m. That's a drop in the ocean, so keep it.
Posted 09:35 05th December 2012
jontheref says...
melkdave
here you go again, thinking what is written on this site has any impact on what decision makers do.
English RU have a contract for 8 games to be played at the MS, your inane thoughts have no relevance at all.
of course, you are entitled to your opinion, even though it is totally wromg!
IMO!.
Have a nice one.
Have you donated that pint to charity yet?
Posted 08:11 05th December 2012
melkdave says...
I still think that in the end Cardiff wont be hosting any RWC matches.England just doesnt need it REALLY we dont .Bristol Citys football stadium can host any RWC matces in the pool stages for SW England ,and for the QFs and SFs well we have great stadia in Manchester ,Birmingham,Newcastlwe ,Liverpool,in fact all over the place SFs well Twickers and Wembly spring to mind straight away .Cardiff we thought about it but SORRY your surplus to requiements.RFU dont allocate any games in Wales what so ever ok.
Posted 20:05 04th December 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
just seen Mr Ritchie's response - it would seem that there are a few tongues in cheek with this request - never going to happen.
@ozinlondon, pretty sure that the RFU has more than the financial and logistical resource to host the competition alone (probably more than any other top tier nation apart from France). Unfortunately, to gain the IRB nomination requires voting support from other unions which is when everything gets a little opportunistic.
Posted 16:19 04th December 2012
jontheref says...
If the boot was on the other foot, The English RU would be doing exactly the same!
Gamesmanship has started!
If England had wanted to use English only stadia, without the financial help of the WRU and the Welsh assembley they should have said.
They may not have got the bid!
Isn't Rugby fun!
Posted 14:12 04th December 2012
melkdave says...
Just two words needed here NO CHANCE
Posted 14:04 04th December 2012
OzinLondon says...
If England want to be "entitled" to play Wales at Twickenham... they shouldn't have included Welsh stadiums as part of an "English" bid.
Jaystarr has already said enough but it is pathetic that for every RWC held in the Uk the Home Nations have been able to "buy" home advantage from their neighbours who are hosting. Hopefully the IRB will have the balls to negate any Welsh home advantage by making them play elsewhere... but I doubt it.
Posted 13:59 04th December 2012
makemehappy says...
Can't believe people thought this was a serious request!
Posted 13:44 04th December 2012
bignoel says...
I'll have a few of what Mr Lewis is drinking please!! The man is deluded. The only chance of Wales meeting England in Cardiff is if they schedule a semi final there.
Posted 13:35 04th December 2012
Sincero says...
You've got to laugh at the Welsh. They're offering to have England as guests in their own tournament in a stadium that English charity money built, and they note that the council and the phony pseudo parliament will put forward some dosh, BOTH of which the English are actually paying for themselves!!! what a magnanimous gesture ! still part of the UK? am sure the tax-payers there realise that, Wales, as you call daily, begging bowl in one hand, cap in the other. You're not a nation at all, you've been at this for 7 centuries, and technically it'd be a home game for the XV of the Rose as Wales is the principality of western England, and you're circuitously sending them the bill anyway, while keeping the profits, so why not???? invertebrate parasites.
Posted 13:31 04th December 2012
TVaddict says...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No way!
Millennium Stadium = 74,500 capacity.
Twickenham = 82,000
That's 7500 guaranteed ticket holders lost, probably all paying a couple of hundred. So if we assume a ticket price of £100 (it'll probably be more) that's a £750,000 lose compared to Twickenham. So it doesn't even make financial sense!
Posted 13:28 04th December 2012
lawynd says...
Roger Lewis can foxtrot oscar, I think it's ridiculous that games are being hosted at the Millenium in the first place. For the cheek of asking, Wales should have to play all of their group games (except England) as far from Cardiff as possible...to Newcastle they go! ;)
Posted 13:09 04th December 2012
daibok says...
Why on earth should England give up home advantage? I dont understand why this was even requested. Perhaps they could play Australia in Brisbane as well.
Posted 12:49 04th December 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Q: Would Wales play the game at Twickenham if they were hosts?
A: Well, d'uh!!!!
Tell you what though Wales. You can play Australia in Cardiff if you like? Fair play form a financial point of view??? (I really don't know why we're so nice to you guys, you're so lucky to have us around.)
Posted 12:27 04th December 2012