Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park Joins Venue List for Rugby World Cup 2015

England Rugby 2015, medicine Organising Committee for Rugby World Cup 2015, have confirmed today that Sandy Park, home of Aviva Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs, has been added to the long list of match venues for Rugby World Cup 2015.

The addition of Sandy Park follows the recent announcement by Bristol City Football Club of a proposed redevelopment of Ashton Gate. After discussion with the club, it was agreed that the redevelopment timetable will prove challenging for the staging of matches in autumn 2015. In order to ensure the Tournament utilises venues all over the country, an additional stadium in the South West of England has been identified.

Sandy Park meets all of the Rugby World Cup 2015 minimum standards criteria, including playing facilities, pitch size, commercial considerations and the support of the local authority. In addition, the stadium will have an increased capacity by 2015.

Debbie Jevans, England Rugby 2015 Chief Executive, said, “We are very pleased to add Sandy Park to the long list of potential match venues for Rugby World Cup 2015. We want to ensure that Rugby World Cup 2015 is a truly national event, and Sandy Park, located in the rugby heartland of the South West, gives us the option to take the Tournament as far and wide as possible. I would like to thank Tony Rowe, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exeter Chiefs, and Exeter City Council for their support over the last few weeks as we went through the process of adding Sandy Park to the long list. We are finalising venues and the match schedule in conjunction with Rugby World Cup Limited and will publish the final list in the next few weeks.”

Tony Rowe OBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exeter Rugby, said: “We are delighted to have been confirmed as one of the possible match venues on the long list for Rugby World Cup 2015. This announcement is exciting news not just for rugby followers, but for everyone living within the region. We have been working incredibly closely with Exeter City Council in submitting a bid we hope will bring so much to so many people. Our hope now is that we will be among the venues that will be selected for what I know will be a superb Rugby World Cup here in England in 2015.”

Pete Edwards, Exeter City Council Leader, said: “This is another great opportunity for Exeter to play its part at the heart of the South West in contributing to this exciting world event and to provide a great welcome to UK and international visitors. We are working particularly with Exeter Chiefs to try and secure the final selection of Exeter as one of the host cities for Rugby World Cup 2015 so that millions of people can get at least a glimpse of what the city and its surrounding area can offer.”