The International Rugby Board have announced England will host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The 26-man council, meeting in Dublin, voted to ratify a recommendation from the World Cup board that confirmed England as 2015 hosts with Japan to stage the tournament in 2019.

The Rugby Football Union beat competition from South Africa and Italy after submitting a commercial package worth an estimated £300 million to the global game.

The 2015 World Cup will run from September 4 to October 17, when the final will be played at Twickenham.

Matches will be staged in ten cities and 12 stadia across the country including Wembley, Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium, Anfield and the Millennium Stadium, which is the only venue being used outside England.

The last time England hosted the tournament was in 1991, when Will Carling's team were beaten in the final by Australia.

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