England will bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the Rugby Football Union have confirmed. The RFU had expressed major doubts over the costs of hosting the tournament last month, but strong government backing appears to have secured the bid.

Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Greenwood and Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport Andy Burnham will be part of a five-strong delegation presenting the proposal to the International Rugby Board Council in Dublin on 13 May, when details of the bid will be made public. Japan, Italy and South Africa are also in the running.

Burnham said: "England 2015 would be a superb addition to a great decade of sport in Britain. 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 games at grounds in England and Wales. Dallaglio said: "Playing in the Rugby World Cup is every player's dream. 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 World Cup along with Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France. RFU chief executive Francis Baron said: "We believe it is time that we brought the tournament back to England and are confident we would be able to provide the best platform to profile the sport on the world stage and enable us to make a lasting commitment to grassroots rugby."