The 2015 Rugby World Cup hosted by England was the most successful yet in economic terms, with nearly €2.5 billion in output generated, according to the findings of a new report by EY, the professional services firm that was a partner of the tournament.

Their conclusion was tournament last autumn directly added €1.4 billion to the UK gross domestic product, with significant benefits for the regions involved. This was despite England themselves failing to progress from the group stage and no Northern hemisphere side making it to the semi-finals.

The report will be pored over in detail by those plotting Ireland’s bid to stage the tournament in 2023, the second phase of which process is now live.

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A year out from the tournament, EY predicted that the World Cup would generate up to €2.4 billion in output for the UK economy and add €1.1 billion to the GDP.

This was a significant step up on the 2011 tournament held in New Zealand.

The new study shows that last year’s World Cup attracted 406,000 international visitors from 151 countries staying for an average of 14 days and spending a total of £958 million, or an average of £2,400.

The competition supported 34,000 jobs or volunteer roles across the UK.

Broadcast and commercial revenues were up by 40 per cent on 2011.

The spend by foreign visitors included £270 million on accommodation, £233 million on leisure activities, £188 million on food and drink, £156 million on travel and £111 million on retail.

The World Cup generated a total of £980 million for the local economies of the 11 host cities with London, which staged matches at Twickenham Stadium, Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Stadium predictably leading the way.

The economic impact in Richmond, the London borough which includes Twickenham, came to £284.1 million, ensuring a £136-million contribution to the local economy and support for 2,500 jobs.

The World Cup was the fifth largest single-sport event ever in terms of sales of tickets, with 2.47 million, or 98 per cent of the total, snapped up.

Meanwhile, more than 1 million people attended at least one of the 15 fanzones, including 255,000 international visitors, spending an average of £40 and contributing a total of £10 million to local economies.

Bill Beaumont, the incoming chairman of World Rugby, said: “This new report reflects Rugby World Cup’s status as one of the best-loved and most prestigious major sports events, while highlighting the significant social and economic benefits that make the tournament such an attractive low-investment, high-return hosting proposition for governments and unions alike.”