Pearse Stadium approved as potential Rugby World Cup venue

Galway is highly likely to be a match venue for the Rugby World Cup 2023 if Ireland’s bid to become a host nation is successful, after the International Rugby Board gave the ‘thumbs up’ to Pearse Stadium.

The Sentinel has learned that the 30,000 capacity Salthill GAA grounds and facilities have been inspected by the IRB – which organises the Rugby World Cup – and given their stamp of approval.

If it were to go ahead here, it could provide a boost of around €20 million for the local economy.

And CEO of the Galway GAA County Board, John Hynes told the Sentinel he is “very confident” that if Ireland’s bid to host the RWC is successful, Pearse Stadium will be a venue.

“If Ireland was successful in getting the World Cup in 2023, I personally would be very confident that Galway would be one of the venues.

“We have had ground inspections from the International Rugby Federation [Board]. They have reviewed the facilities and they examined the pitch and they’re more than happy with the venue.

“It meets their criteria to host one or two of the games in the RWC – it’s just a matter of when or if Ireland is successful and we get the World Cup. Our name would definitely be in the hat. It’s not a guarantee we would get them, but the facility here in Pearse Stadium meets the criteria,” said Mr Hynes.

For more on this story, see this week’s Connacht Sentinel