World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont has hailed the Rugby World Cup 2023 bids as 'exciting and impressive' after the candidate Unions presented their vision and plans to World Rugby Council in London today.

Bob Geldof reads from the WB Yeats poem, 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree', as he talks about the Irish around the world and the impact they will have on a Rugby World Cup in Ireland.

The Ireland team bidding to host Rugby World Cup 2023 delivered a powerful presentation to the World Rugby representatives in London today and promised to deliver a 'tournament like no other'.

Ireland is in the final stage of bidding to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. We have put a great bid together, it is a partnership between North and South, between the IRFU and the GAA, between our communities, business, diaspora and Government. Everybody is coming together, it is Ireland at its best.

Fans around the world can now register their interest in applying for Rugby World Cup 2019 tickets, following the launch of the official ticketing website as part of a nationwide festival to celebrate two years to go.

A nationwide roadshow was launched today as Japan celebrates two years to go until Rugby World Cup 2019.

The Ireland team bidding to host Rugby World Cup 2023 is confident that its commitment to deliver a 'tournament like no other' will capture the hearts and minds of World Rugby voters, while delivering the largest, most secure, commercial programme ever offered to World Rugby for the privilege of hosting rugby's biggest prize - the Rugby World Cup.

Two last-minute tries prevented Ireland from challenging for top honours at the Rugby Europe Under-18 Women's Sevens Championship In Vichy yesterday, but coach Lucy Mulhall predicts a bright future ahead for her young and talented squad.

The Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup Bid Presentation delegation, which will present Ireland's case to World Rugby in London on Monday, September 25, will be spearheaded by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD.

The Ireland squad for the Rugby Europe Under-18 Women's Sevens Championship in Vichy, France has been announced. The tournament takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

The IRFU have announced a National Men's Sevens squad for the 2017/2018 season which will see them compete in the World Sevens Series qualifying tournament in Hong Kong this coming April, and at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco next July.

Paul Boyle, who captained the Ireland Under-20s at June's World Rugby U-20 Championship, and Ireland Sevens speedster Jordan Conroy are two of the notable inclusions in the Connacht Rugby Academy panel (sponsored by NUI Galway) for the 2017/18 season.

Ireland have been crowned Rugby Europe Under-18 Men's Sevens champions for the second year in a row. Anthony Eddy's completely-new squad overcame a much-fancied French side 21-19 in a pulsating final tonight in Heidelberg, Germany.

Relive the Ireland U-18 Girls' eight-match run which saw them crowned UK School Games Rugby 7s champions at Loughborough University last weekend. Check out full game replays and a tournament photo gallery below.

Anthony Eddy, the IRFU Director of Sevens Rugby, has selected a 12-strong squad to compete in this weekend's Rugby Europe Under-18 Men's Sevens Championship in Heidelberg, Germany.

The Ireland Under-18 Girls Sevens squad broke new ground by reaching their first ever final and winning it as they were deservedly crowned UK School Games Rugby 7s champions at Loughborough University on Saturday night.

The Ireland Girls Sevens squad has been finalised for the UK School Games, which take place in Loughborough University this weekend.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont has hailed Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as a 'special and ground-breaking' event as New Zealand lifted the coveted trophy after a pulsating final, bringing down the curtain on a tournament that broke records on and off the field.

Ireland legend Willie Duggan, aged 67, passed away earlier today. The Leinster, Ireland and Lions star will be sadly missed by his family, friends and the rugby community.

The biggest fallers in the World Rugby Women's Rankings over the last seven days are WRWC 2017 hosts Ireland after two defeats to lower-ranked teams in Australia and Wales.