Murrayfield will not be hosting any Rugby World Cup games in the near future © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: England | Scotland

Scotland have officially withdrawn from the running to co-host the 2015 Rugby World Cup after failing to reach an agreement with the four home unions.

The Scottish Rugby Union had initially expressed an interest in staging part of the tournament on the grounds that "a four home unions bid would be an exciting prospect for world rugby". The Scottish Government had confirmed its willingness to underwrite an equitable proportion of the £80million tournament fee in return for Scotland hosting a pool and at least one quarter-final.

But Scotland failed to reach an agreement with the four home unions and they have today withdrawn from the International Rugby Board's tender process for both the 2015 and 2019 tournaments.

The Rugby Football Union are considering submitting their own bid for England to stage the 2015 World Cup and they are not prepared to enter into any formal co-hosting arrangement.

Following the anouncement, SRU chief executive Gordon McKie said, "We have always stated that we believe that a four home unions bid would have been a strong bid and one which would have been positively received by world rugby and indeed the IRB. During the review process, we have worked closely with the Scottish Government, who have offered every assistance and we are grateful for their support during the bid process.

"We plan to work with our Scottish partners to ensure that we are successful in hosting future international rugby and sporting events in Scotland."

Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robison said, "This government, in partnership with the national events agency, has done all it can to assist Scottish Rugby with its plans to be part of a bid for 2015, and it is unfortunate that this will no longer go ahead. However we will continue to work with the SRU and look forward to bringing other rugby events to Scotland in the future."

If the RFU confirm their intention to submit an official bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, organisers will look at hiring stadia outside of England, but only if the arrangement makes sound financial sense. Ticket sales are the host union's only chance to bring in revenue from a Rugby World Cup and it is understood the RFU would have concerns over using Murrayfield because of previous low attendances.

The IRB will confirm on May 8 which unions have bid to host the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. The venues for both tournaments will be selected by the IRB council on July 28.

If England decide to press ahead for 2015, they are likely to be up against South Africa, Italy and Japan whose bids all have full government backing. Australia pulled out of the running for 2015 this month, with chief executive John O'Neill believing the tournament will head to Europe after New Zealand stage the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Meanwhile, SRU chief McKie has confirmed Andy Robinson is on a shortlist of six candidates for the Scotland head coach job. Former England boss Robinson is the bookies' favourite to land the role but the Edinburgh coach will have to undergo up to three interviews before finding out if he has been successful.

"Andy has made an application, and can tick many of the boxes," McKie told BBC Scotland. "After the first interview, we'll have a second interview and maybe even a third - but the most important thing is that we get the right guy."

A five-man selection panel to find the new head coach includes three former Scotland captains and ex-British and Irish Lions. Andy Irvine, Andy Nicol, Gordon Bulloch, SRU chair Alan Munro and McKie will choose Frank Hadden's successor.