RFU World Cup Bid 2007 - MP Reaction

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 27th Oct 2002

MP Vincent Cable attended the press launch yesterday for the 2007 World Cup bid by the RFU and subsequently gave his reaction.

"There are some attractive ideas in this bid for the sport of rugby, notably the thought that has gone into helping emerging rugby nations. But for Twickenham this could mean 10 extra full capacity matches in June/July 2007: the final and two semi finals; four of the eight "super eight" games at quarter final stage; and three other England games in the first, pool, stage."

"The implications for life in Twickenham at that time are serious even though the events are a long way off."

"I would like to get behind the sport in promoting this very big world event but if the bid succeeds (against a rival bid from France) there will need to be some very serious discussions with the RFU as to how to ease the burden on the local community of an event of such unprecedented scale and duration".