Rugby World Cup 2015 Venues and Dates List, Training Venues: Rugby World Cup is about to begin and let’s talk about who are the teams competing in the quadrennial event. Let us once again quickly brief you about the Pools and the teams.
The event will have teams playing league matches in four Pools, Pool A, Pool B, Pool C and Pool D. With teams like England, Australia, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay being part of Pool A. Pool B will have stronger teams like South Africa, Samoa, Scotland, and two other qualifiers Japan and the United States of America. Pool C comprises of the team from New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga, Georgia and Namibia whereas the Pool D has strong contenders like France, Italy, Ireland, Canada and Romania.
Now, since we are aware of the format and the teams, it is important to take you to the venues for the 2015 World Cup.
The World Cup being hosted in the United Kingdom will see 13 venues hosting the matches which includes Brighton Community Stadium, Ellan Road, Kingsholm Stadium, Leicester City Stadium, Manchester City Stadium, Millennium Stadium, The Stadium- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Sandy Park, St.James Park, Stadium MK, Twickenham Stadium, Villa Park, and Wembley Stadium.
Rugby World Cup 2015 Venues List Confirmed:
Brighton Community Stadium is situated on the outskirt of the city of Brighton and has beautiful semi- circular stand roof and tubular supporting steelwork. It has the capacity of approximately 30,000.
Next on the venue list is Ellan Road, which offers a great view and hosted the South African national side in 1992 which saw the presence of over 14,000 people. The stadium supports a capacity of almost 38,000.
Next on the list is a venue which has a rich history of rugby-associated with it. Kingsholm Stadium hosted its first Test match almost way back in 1900 when Bancroft led Wales prevailed over England 13-3. However, for about 91 years the stadium did not see any international match. After a long hiatus, in 1991, 12,000 people watched the battle between New Zealand and USA. It is this venue which saw Rugby League World Cup match between New Zealand and Lebanon in 2000. But if you are thinking this venue will let you watch the match with peace, you are wrong! It has the noisiest crowd in the league.
Leicester City Stadium with a capacity of around 32,000 comes with a state-of-the-art –all-seat facility.
Manchester City Stadium has been witness to the Commonwealth Games in the past and has the history of rugby-associated with it. In the Seven finals at the Games, New Zealand claimed gold defeating Fiji. Manchester City Football Club has its home matches played at the stadium. The stadium also has hosted international rugby league and the super league Magic Weekend event in 2012.
Millennium Stadium is the second-largest sports venue in the world with a fully retractable roof and it is not new to rugby as it was the primary host venue for 1999 Rugby World Cup.
The Stadium- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the former Olympic stadium will be used as a venue temporarily for five matches at the World Cup.
Sandy Park, you may term it as the bastion of English club rugby. With Sandy Park as the World Cup venue, it may become one of the biggest club rugby grounds in the UK.
St.James Park, with the capacity of almost 53,000 this stadium is the oldest football stadium in North East of England. With rich sporting history attached to it, it would be a great venue for the World Cup.
Stadium MK is not new to rugby matches as it has staged a handful of rugby unions, from hosting Saracens and Bristol. Stadium MK was also the base for Northampton Saints.
Twickenham Stadium is synonymous with rugby in England as it is the biggest rugby ground in the world. No wonder that the final of the 2015 World Cup will be played at this stadium which staged the first game between Harlequins and Richmond in 1909.
Villa Park has been the ground for all kinds of sports, from athletics to cycling to boxing and rugby leagues.
Wembley Stadium has hosted football finals, UEFA leagues, Olympics and also has hosted its first rugby international 1992.
2015 Rugby World Cup Traning Venues:
Group A:
England - Pennyhill Park Hotel, Salford (AJ Bell Stadium, Irlam & Cadishead Leisure Centre)
Australia - Dulwich College, University of Bath
Wales - The Vale Resort, London Irish RFC (London Irish RFC, Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex)
Fiji - Swansea University (Swansea University, Wales National Pool), London Irish RFC (London Irish RFC, Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex), Milton Keynes & MK Dons (Woughton on the Green, Bletchley Leisure Centre)
Uruguay - Moulton College, Loughborough University, Manchester (Broughton Park RUFC, The Hough End Centre, Manchester Aquatics Centre), Celtic Manor Resort & Newport (Newport High School/Active Living Centre, The Celtic Academy)
Group B:
S. Africa - University of Birmingham, The Lensbury & St Mary’s University, Eastbourne College & University of Brighton,
Gateshead (Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead Leisure Centre, Gateshead College)
Samoa -
Milton Keynes & MK Dons (Woughton on the Green, Bletchley Leisure Centre)
University of Brighton (University of Brighton, Prince Regent Swimming Complex)
Gateshead (Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead Leisure Centre, Gateshead College)
Sutton Coldfield RFC (Sutton Coldfield RFC, Birmingham Met. College, Wyndley Leisure Centre, CrossFitB76)
Scotland -
Hartpury College
Newcastle Royal Grammar School
Leeds Metropolitan University & University of Leeds
Japan -Warwick School, Brighton College
United States -
Hartpury College
Haileybury School
Royal Navy Rugby Union
Leeds Trinity University (Leeds Trinity University, Kirkstall Leisure Centre)
Group C:
N. Zealand -
Sport Wales National Centre
The Lensbury & St Mary’s University
Darlington Mowden Park RFC (Darlington Mowden Park RFC, Middlesbrough FC)
Argentina -
St George’s Park
Haileybury School
Cheltenham RFC (Cheltenham RFC, Leisure@, Gym 66)
Tonga -
University of Exeter
Loughborough University
University of Northumbria
Cheltenham RFC (Cheltenham RFC, Leisure@, Gym 66)
Georgia -
Woodbury Park & Bicton College (Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Club, Bicton College)
Bristol & SGS Wise (South Gloucestershire & Stroud College, Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre)
Celtic Manor Resort & Newport (Newport High School/Active Living Centre, The Celtic Academy)
Namibia -
Loughborough University
Cobham RFC (Cobham RFC, ACS Cobham)
Plymouth (St Mark & St John Uni., Plymouth RFC, Plymouth Life Centre & Royal Navy RU)
Group D:
France:
The Vale Resort
Trinity school croydon
Ireland:
St George’s Park
Surrey Sports Park
Sport Wales National Centre
Celtic Manor Resort & Newport (Newport High School/Active Living Centre, The Celtic Academy)
Italy:
Surrey Sports Park
Cobham RFC (Cobham RFC, ACS Cobham)
Canada:
Leicester Grammar School
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Swansea University (Swansea University, Wales National Pool)
West Park Leeds RUFC (West Park Leeds RUFC, John Charles Centre for Sport)
Romania:
Dulwich College
Woodbury Park & Bicton College (Woodbury Park Hotel & Golf Club, Bicton College)
Sutton Coldfield RFC (Sutton Coldfield RFC, Birmingham Met. College, Wyndley Leisure Centre, CrossFitB76)
