The company managing London’s Olympic Stadium has "formally submitted an application for the venue to host matches" during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, according to Gavin Mairs of the London TELEGRAPH. The application is "receiving serious consideration" by England Rugby 2015, the organising company for the tournament, which will be staged in England and Wales during September and October of that year (TELEGRAPH, 7/3). In Edinburgh, Bill Lothian noted that Scottish Rugby Union CEO Mark Dodson launched an "ambitious scheme featuring World Cup glory as part of a four-year plan," and Scotland could become one of the "first rugby teams to sample the arena." English Rugby 2015 CEO Paul Vaughan said, “It would be great to have a world-class event in a world–class venue." Emirates Stadium is currently being considered as well for the event location, but it is "understood a successful Olympic Stadium bid would replace the Arsenal football ground" (SCOTSMAN, 7/4). METRO.co.uk's Sam Ross noted that for the move to happen the Olympic Park Legacy Company will have to "guarantee the venue can meet all the requirements" listed by the Int'l Rugby Board for tournament stadiums. The list will include for the stadium to be free of advertising, which is "likely to not be resolved until the stadium tenant has been found after the Olympics" (METRO.co.uk, 7/4).
