England Rugby 2015 Confirms Approved List of Team Bases for RWC 2015

England Rugby 2015 has confirmed an approved list of prospective team bases for the Rugby World Cup 2015.

With more than 80 applications received from over 30 English counties and within Wales, England Rugby 2015 has moved into the next phase of the team base selection programme by confirming an approved list of bases.

Although not yet confirmed for use, 65 bases have now been identified as meeting the criteria to host the 20 participating teams at RWC 2015 and will go through to the next phase of selection. These include a mix of rugby clubs, universities, colleges, schools and established training grounds used by national, Premiership and Championship rugby and football clubs.

Bases on the approved list are not guaranteed to host teams; however they will be used to provide the competing nations with their team base options, many of which are currently undertaking visits of prospective bases.

A team base must include an indoor and outdoor training facility, a gym, an indoor swimming pool and a hotel. These facilities must meet international team training standards and be located in close proximity of one another. Match venue location has also been taken into account.

England Rugby 2015 requires up to 50 bases for use during the tournament. These will be confirmed mid-2014 following completion of team visits and selection.

"I would like to thank all those who applied and who have met with us in recent months; these visits have been integral to the process and have shown the great enthusiasm for Rugby World Cup 2015," said England Rugby 2015 Chief Executive, Debbie Jevans.“We are fortunate to have such a great number of excellent facilities available to host the teams in 2015 and we are pleased to have a good range including rugby clubs, colleges, universities schools and training centres on the approved list. Rugby is at the heart of all our planning and it is vital that, in our role as the Organising Committee, we do all we can to ensure that we get the conditions absolutely right for the players to prepare for the game’s premier event. We will continue to work with the team mangers and look forward to confirming the final list of Team Bases by the middle of this year.”