But the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said that the Olympic Stadium did not figure as part of their plans.

 

 

Johnson said: "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."

 

The Stadium is due to be downsized after the Olympics from its Games capacity of 80,000 to 25,000 and, controversially, retain a running track.

 

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has raised the possibility of retaining the capacity at the end of the Games and it hosting matches if England's bid to stage the 2018 football World Cup is successful.

 

But the RFU said it had no plans to use the Stadium, whatever its capacity was.

 

A spokesman said: "The Olympic Stadium was not part of our bid for Rugby World Cup 2015 and we haven't had any conversations with London about its inclusion."

 

The row overshadowed the award of two more major events to Britain.

 

Earlier in the day Britain had also been chosen to host the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

 

Johnson said: "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 and Paralympic Games to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, and the NFL at Wembley to the Tour de France Grand Depart.

 

"And it goes without saying that rugby fans heading to the capital from across the world in 2015 will also enjoy a hearty welcome, as well as an unbeatable range of other activities and attractions."

 

Prime Minister Gordon Brown (pictured) said: “This is a fantastic achievement.

 

"I’m sure the whole country will want to play their part in making this the most memorable of Rugby World Cups.

“I’d also like to say how pleased I am that the 2013 Rugby League World Cup will be held in the UK.

 

"It really is a great opportunity to inspire a generation of young people to play the game and together with Sport England’s £30 million support for grassroots rugby, the sport has some exciting years to look forward to.

“This is yet another tremendous event to add to the country’s decade of sport and another chance to show our nation’s passion for sport and what world class facilities we have to offer. I’m sure it will be a tournament to remember.”

 

Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: "Winning the right to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015 is a fantastic achievement and I congratulate the RFU on putting together such an outstanding bid.

 

"This is a great addition to what we hope will be the most celebrated decade in our sporting history.

 

"I am in no doubt that we will hold a first-class tournament, enthralling fans from across the globe and inspiring a new generation to take up rugby."

 

Francis Baron, the chief executive of the RFU, said:: "The RFU, and every rugby fan in England, will be thrilled that we have been chosen to host RWC2015.

 

"This is a fantastic addition to the UK's Decade of World Sport which started this year with the cricket 20/20 World Cup and which continues in 2010 with the women's Rugby World Cup, followed by the Olympics in 2012 and now the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

 

"We have made a commitment to the IRB (International Rugby Board) Council to host the most successful tournament ever, building on the outstanding success of France 2007 and what we are sure will be a great tournament in New Zealand in 2011.

 

"We will not disappoint them.

 

"We will host a festival of rugby that will fill our iconic stadia with excited fans and deliver a global platform for the game.

 

"We can't wait to get going and would like to thank the IRB Council for giving us this honour."

 

Will Greenwood, a Rugby World Cup winner in 2003, said: "What excites me about a tournament in England is the opportunity to use rugby as a force for good in the world and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.

 

"I have seen at first hand how rugby can change lives on an individual basis - now we have a chance to change many lives in England and around the world. It is a huge opportunity and a wonderful challenge."

 

Lawrence Dallaglio, a Rugby World Cup winner in 2003 and a former England captain, said: "The world's best players will now have a chance to play in some of the world's best stadia and supporters can look forward to a feast of rugby.

 

"It's almost enough to bring me out of retirement."