The Rugby Football Union is hoping to lure the 2015 World Cup to England with the promise of using the biggest venues in the country, including Twickenham, Wembley and football stadiums such as Old Trafford and the Emirates.

In a presentation to the International Rugby Board council in Dublin this morning, the RFU revealed it is targeting sell-out crowds at every match with a cumulative total of three million ticket sales for the tournament – a 30% increase on France 2007.

The final and two semi-finals would be held at Twickenham, with Wembley and the Millennium Stadium in Wales hosting the quarter-finals and pool matches of a tournament that is scheduled to run from 4 September to 17 October. Gloucester's Kingsholm and Leicester's Welford Road are the only recognised club rugby grounds set to be used.

Under the plans, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium would host pool matches and the third-place play-off while the RFU also plan to use Anfield (Liverpool), Elland Road (Leeds), St Mary's Stadium (Southampton), St James' Park (Newcastle) and the Ricoh Arena (Coventry).

With the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand not expected to generate the same revenue levels as France 2007 or Australia 2003, the RFU argued England's bid will make the most commercial sense. England are competing against South Africa, Italy and Japan to be the primary host of the World Cup for the first time since 1991.

"In 2015 it will be 24 years since England last hosted a rugby World Cup and we believe the time is right," said RFU chief executive Francis Baron. "These are turbulent and difficult times but we believe the bid we have put together represents a low risk but high potential return.

"At the heart of our bid are passion, love and commitment to the game and its ideals. Our desire is to broaden rugby's horizons by reaching out and embracing new audiences.

"The tournament would serve as a catalyst to drive participation, awareness and opportunities supporting the development of the game nationally, in Europe and across the globe.

"The RFU is committed to investing 100% of its surplus from the tournament back into the grassroots game, both here in England and through our continued investment in our development agreements with North America and support for the Pacific Island nations."

The RFU's bid has been backed by the government, who have agreed to underwrite part of the £80m tournament fee and guarantee security for the tournament.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham said: "These are exciting times for sport in our country. Next month, the cricket Twenty20 World Cup marks the start of what we hope will be the most memorable and successful decade in our sporting history.

"A rugby World Cup on home soil in 2015 will be a central part of that vision for a decade of sport."