England’s promise of big revenues secured it the Rugby World Cup 2015, while the IRB hope to spread the game by selecting Japan as 2019 host.

UK newspaper The Guardian reports that England’s Rugby Football Union said the 2015 event would generate a surplus of over £200 million, and would see an average match attendance of 57,000. Reuters reports that Japan believes it can match the crowd numbers.

“We need two things more importantly now. The first is money for the game and the second is rolling it around the world,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset after announcing the winners in Dublin yesterday.

The International Rugby Board voted 16-10 in favour of the two countries, which had been recommended as hosts by the organisers Rugby World Cup Ltd.

Reuters reports that England and Japan may be permitted to host matches in neighbouring countries, if it was financially viable, International Rugby Board chief executive Mike Miller said yesterday. The organisers of the tournament originally said that this would not be permitted.

The RFU said it would make a “compelling case” for the inclusion of Wales’ Millennium Stadium.

London Mayor Boris Johnson yesterday said the city’s Olympic Stadium could be used to host Rugby World Cup matches, but the RFU distanced itself from the comments, saying, “The Olympic Stadium was not part of our bid for Rugby World Cup 2015 and we haven't had any conversations with London about its inclusion.”