England has won its bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
The International Rugby Board Council (IRB) made the announcement at the same time as revealing that Japan would host the following tournament in 2019.
The 2015 Rugby World Cup will run from 4 September to
17 October, when the final will be played at Twickenham. Other matches will be staged in ten cities and 12 grounds across the country including Wembley, Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium, Anfield and the Millennium Stadium, which is the only venue being used outside England.
A Visit London spokesperson said: "This is a fantastic win for England. The 750,000 people that celebrated England's 2003 World Cup victory through the streets of London demonstrates the passion and enthusiasm that this great tournament will be greeted with. London looks forward to welcoming fans from across the world to celebrate and enjoy the 2015 Rugby World Cup."
Mayor of London Boris Johnson added: "Together with the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2010, the men's tournament in 2015 is another feather in the cap for the sport and adds to London's outstanding calendar of international sporting events - from the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, and the NFL at Wembley to the Tour de France Grand Départ.
"London has some of the finest sporting venues in the world - Twickenham, of course, as well as Wembley and the Emirates Stadium. But from 2012 there will be another, excellent new venue - the Olympic Stadium. We will discuss the option of it providing another base with the RFU, and work with them to ensure the 2015 Rugby World Cup is the best ever tournament."
