VisitEngland is starting to promote Rugby World Cup 2015, which will be held Sept.18 to Oct. 31 in cities across England.
Hugh Robertson, the U.K.’s minister of state for sport and tourism, was in New York this week to announce the cities that will host the matches.
The geographic spread of the event means England will be able to showcase the entire nation.
“Sport in this country is an incredibly powerful sales tool that has the power to attract millions of international visitors, and acts as an important catalyst to stimulate domestic visits from our vast homegrown fan base,” said James Berresford, VisitEngland’s CEO.
The tourist board’s strategy during the tournament will be to encourage visitors to stay longer and explore the country.
Rugby will be an Olympic sport in 2016 for the first time since 1924, when the U.S. won the gold medal.
Packages will go on sale in January 2014.
Follow Kate Rice on Twitter @krtravelweekly.