England will bid to stage the rugby union World Cup in 2015, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said in a statement yesterday.

The RFU said on its website (www.rfu.com) that it would present the government-backed proposal to the International Rugby Board (IRB) council in Dublin on May 13.

England, Italy, Japan and South Africa are all in contention to stage the tournament, following the withdrawal of Australia's proposed bid last month and Ireland and Scotland's withdrawal from their original joint bid with England and Wales last week.

The IRB will make a decision on the host nation for the 2015 and 2019 tournaments on July 28.

With London staging the 2012 Olympic Games and the Football Association bidding to bring the 2018 football World Cup to England, winning the right to stage the rugby version would complete an astonishing hat-trick for Britain.

Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood, members of England's 2003 World Cup-winning team, and secretary of state for culture, media and sport Andy Burnham will be part of a five-strong delegation presenting the proposal to the IRB.

The bid includes staging games at some of the biggest stadiums in England and Wales, including London's Wembley Stadium and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

England hosted the 1991 rugby World Cup with Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. The next World Cup will be in New Zealand in 2011.

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