ROME - The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) has confirmed its intention to bid to host the 2023 World Cup. 

FIR president Alfredo Gavazzi has highlighted the growth of the sport in Italy, telling the press that hosting the Junior World Championships in 2011 and again this summer will boost the country’s ability to stage a World Cup.

World Rugby’s “expression of interest phase” will be launched on 14^th May and will close on 15^th June, after which workshops will be held for unions interested in applying. However, officials will not reveal which country’s bid has been successful until May 2017.

Thus far, Ireland is the only other nation to have openly expressed its intention to host the 2023 World Cup but the USA and South Africa are also expected to bid. England is hosting this year’s tournament and the following competition will be held in Japan in 2019.