If at first you don’t succeed...

While the failure of Ireland’s bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup still stings, lessons can be learned for the future

Brian O’Driscoll, IRFU president Phil Orr and chief executive Philip Browne react to the decision to award the 2023 Rugby World Cup to France Picture: Getty

‘How in the hell did they do that?” Dick Spring was sitting in the front row of the conference room in the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London, when the announcement was finally made that France would host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Judging by the expressions of his colleagues on the Irish bid team – including Brian O’Driscoll and IRFU chief executive Philip Browne – not to mention the faces of his ...