Rugby World Cup
Thomas set for top World Cup role
Scrum.com
August 3, 2010
Martyn Thomas, Chairman of the RFU Management Committee pictured during the press conference held at Twickenham in Twickenham, England on November 15, 2007.
Martyn Thomas will take charge of England Rugby 2015 © Getty Images
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RFU chairman Martyn Thomas is set to take over as chairman of England Rugby 2015 Ltd, the body responsible for ticket sales at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

According to reports in The Daily Telegraph, Thomas will leave his position with the RFU in 2011 to begin the role, which will be of vital importance given their intention to re-invest profits from the tournament into the grassroots game in England. The RFU's pitch planned for 3,000,000 seats to be sold, an increase of 30% on the successful 2007 event in France.

Thomas will preside over a board also featuring newly-appointed RFU chief executive John Steele and an as-yet-unnamed government minister.

The RFU's ambitious bid for the World Cup will feature games spread across traditional rugby grounds, including Twickenham, Kingsholm, Welford Road and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium as well as football stadia. Manchester United's Old Trafford, Liverpool's Anfield, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and the new Wembley will all hold matches.

The tournament will run between September 4 and October 17 2015, with the IRB set to make around £300m from sponsorship, merchandising and television fees. British broadcaster ITV is reported to have paid in the region of £60-70m for rights to the tournament and its predecessor in New Zealand next year.

© Scrum.com

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