31 Jan 2009

World Cup bid in jeopardy

6:18 am on 31 January 2009

England's Rugby Football Union says the 2015 World Cup bid could be in jeopardy because of the global financial crisis.

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Chief executive Francis Baron says England, one of eight bidding nations, would struggle in the current climate to make the up-front payment of 115 million US dollars required by the International Rugby Board to host the event.

He says whether England can bid in the current climate is a very finely balanced decision.

Corporate hospitality and ticket sales had already been hit for home Six Nations matches.

The RFU says corporate-related sales were down 27 per cent, representing a more than 2 million dollars loss, and tickets for games against Italy, France and Scotland are still on public sale for the first time in years with the tournament starting next week.