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Rugby World Cup 2015 was the most economically successful Rugby World Cup ever
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They generated £2.3 billion in economic output according to the economic impact of Rugby World Cup 2015 report published by EY
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Hosted in England and Cardiff between September 18 and October 31, the tournament was heralded as the biggest and best to date
According to the official World Rugby website, England 2015 was the most competitive, best attended, most viewed, most socially engaged and most commercially successful of the eight tournaments to date and the biggest sporting event of 2015, reinforcing the tournament as one of the world’s most prestigious sports events.
The new report outlines how Rugby World Cup 2015 generated £2.3 billion in output, added £1.1 billion to the UK GDP, attracted 406,000 international visitors from 151 nations and supported 34 000 jobs or volunteer roles the length and breadth of the host nation.
World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Rugby World Cup 2015 was a very special and record-breaking global celebration of rugby and its character-building values and widely regarded as the biggest and best Rugby World Cup to date.”
Incoming World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont added: “This new report reflects Rugby World Cup’s status as one of the best-loved and most prestigious major sports events, while highlighting the significant social and economic benefits that make the tournament such an attractive low-investment, high-return hosting proposition for governments and unions alike.”
RFU CEO Ian Ritchie commented: “We wanted Rugby World Cup 2015 to be a celebration of rugby, which inspired the country, and the world, to play and support the game.
“The team at England Rugby 2015 and the RFU are proud of the tournament we organised and hosted, which will deliver valuable financial benefits not just for the game of rugby, but for the wider national economy.”