Rugby World Cup 2015
World Cup organisers deny venue shortlist
ESPN Staff
March 3, 2013
London's Olympic Stadium has been put forward as a venue for the 2015 World Cup. June 6, 2012
The Olympic Stadium in Stratford appears unlikely to be part of 2015 Rugby World Cup © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup
Teams: England

Reported World Cup venues:

  • Twickenham
  • Millennium Stadium
  • Wembley
  • Kingsholm
  • King Power Stadium
  • Amex Stadium
  • Villa Park or Ricoh Arena
  • Ashton Gate
  • Stadium MK
  • St James' Park
  • Elland Road
  • Old Trafford

Organisers for the 2015 Rugby World Cup have said reports claiming to list the 12 finalised venues for the tournament were "not at all true".

Reports this morning suggested the venues for rugby's showpiece had already been agreed upon and that only three of them would be traditional rugby stadiums. Organisers have, however, described the reported list as inaccurate with a final decision not due to be announced until later this month.

"That list is not at all true. It is entirely speculation," a spokesman for the 2015 Rugby World Cup said. "It is not the final list."

A long list of 17 venues was announced in October last year with five due to be cut when this month's final announcement is made. The only rugby stadiums in that long list were the three named in this morning's reports - Twickenham, the Millennium Stadium and Gloucester's Kingsholm ground.

The remaining venues, apart from the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, are football grounds. The Olympic Stadium appears unlikely to be one of the 12 confirmed venues with this morning's reports matching previous suggestions that the venue would not be available.

"The long-list has been in the public domain for a long time," the spokesman said. "The use of football stadiums was a part of the bid which was well documented."

Second-tier football club Leicester City's King Power Stadium is among the long list of venues but Aviva Premiership high-fliers Leicester Tigers' nearby Welford Road home was overlooked. Other high-capacity football venues included are Wembley, Old Trafford and St James' Park.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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