Communities across the length and breadth of England and Wales will share in the excitement of hosting Rugby World Cup 2015 after tournament organisers England Rugby 2015 and owners Rugby World Cup Limited announced the selection of team base camps.
With Rugby at heart, a selection of 41 venues from the University of Exeter in the south to Newcastle Royal Grammar School in the north, extend the reach of the showcase tournament, while delivering the stage for the world’s best teams to perform to their potential.
The search for team bases was launched via an open tender process in April 2013 and just under 100 bids were received from across the country and in Wales. All prospective team bases were subject to a rigorous selection process which included an expansive and detailed programme of site visits as well as liaison with the competing Rugby World Cup 2015 teams.
A Rugby World Cup 2015 team base will consist of an outdoor and indoor training facility, a swimming pool, gym and hotel and will be utilised by the competing teams in the lead up to and during the six-week event. The facilities must meet international team training standards and be located on one site or within close proximity of one another. Match venue locations have also been taken into account as part of the selection programme.
A mix of rugby clubs, schools, colleges, universities and dedicated training facilities will be utilised by the 20 teams, taking the reach of the tournament even further. Eight bases have also been selected for use during the knock-out phase of the tournament.
RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Rugby World Cup 2015 will be an event that has players and fans at heart, and I am delighted that the teams participating at England 2015 will have access to exceptional facilities the length and breadth of the host nation. It is the attention to detail on and off the field that will elevate this event to new levels and this team base selection will ensure that all the teams have everything they need to perform to their peak potential on Rugby’s greatest stage.”
England Rugby 2015 Chief Executive, Debbie Jevans, said: “As the organising committee for Rugby World Cup 2015 we are committed to ensuring that all participating teams have the optimum training environments available to them throughout the tournament and we are delighted to announce the 41 official team bases. Rugby is at the heart of all our planning and we have worked closely with the teams to ensure that they have access to the best facilities and a team base that meets their individual needs.
“I would like to thank all those who have been part of the team base selection programme. We are lucky to have some fantastic facilities right across the country and the enthusiasm to be part of the tournament has been really encouraging. We are confident that we now have 41 high quality training environments which provide a home away from home for the teams. With a wide range of facilities and locations secured we can give players a unique Rugby World Cup 2015 experience whilst spreading the reach of the tournament even further throughout England and in Wales.”
Springboks Team Bases
| The Lensbury and St Mary’s University University of Birmingham
Gateshead (Gateshead International Stadium, , Gateshead Leisure Centre, Gateshead College) Eastbourne College and University of Brighton (Eastbourne College, University of Brighton – Eastbourne Campus) |
Bases for Knockout Stages
| Celtic Manor and Newport Swansea University
The Vale Resort Sport Wales National Centre Pennyhill Park Surrey Sports Park The Lensbury and St Mary’s University London Irish RFC |