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England will bid to stage the rugby union World Cup in 2015, the Rugby Football Union confirmed.

The RFU said on its website that it would present the government-backed proposal to the International Rugby Board 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 could ultimately prove part of 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.

"England 2015 would be a superb addition to a great decade of sport in Britain," Burnham said in a statement on the RFU website.

"The RFU has pulled together an outstanding bid that will take the game to new audiences. It has the government's full support and we will now work with them to make the case for it."

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.

"The Rugby World Cup is one of the greatest competitions on our sporting calendar and we here in Wales are proud to be associated with its success," said Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis.

"It is a tribute to the status of the Millennium Stadium that its significance as a British sporting arena has been recognised by our involvement in this bid."

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

"Playing in the Rugby World Cup is every player's dream," said Dallaglio, who won 85 England caps between 1995 and 2007.

"I was fortunate to play in three and the drama created by the tournament can only be matched by the passion of people for sport in England.

"Putting the two together at world class venues like Twickenham, Wembley, Old Trafford and the Millennium Stadium will produce the ultimate rugby event."

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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Reuters