Ireland's hopes of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup have been given a major boost after the Italian bid to host the sport's biggest tournament was withdrawn.
The news comes after the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi's decision to end the capital city's candidacy for the 2024 Olympics.
The president of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) Alfredo Gavazzi told the Gazetta del Sud;
"The conditions are no longer there for Italy's candidacy, which was closely linked to that of Rome 2024."
He continues by saying that the decision to withdraw was made "following talks with the prime minister's office and the National Olympic Committee (CONI)."
That leaves Ireland, France and 1995 hosts South Africa in a battle to win the race to be host nation which will end with an announcement next year.
It's expected that that a European nation will win, with the next edition being held in Japan in 2019, while France have been hosts previously, in 2007.
