Rock singer Bono is helping to spearhead the Irish bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup ©Getty Images

Irish rock stars Bono and Bob Geldof as well as actor Liam Neeson are to play key roles in their country's bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

According to The Irish Times, supporting video messages from the trio will form part of the bid team's submission to the World Rugby Council in London on September 25.

In addition to music from U2, the band in which Bono is lead singer, the video will include Geldof's rendition of WB Yeats' poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree.

“Our presentation will reflect the vision and strong commercial credentials of Ireland’s proposition but also, critically, the creativity of the Irish people, which is what will make Ireland 2023 a tournament like no other,” said bid director Kevin Potts, who is also the chief operating officer of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).

Ireland are facing challenges from South Africa and France to hold the sport's flagship international tournament.

The decision will be made by the member nations and unions, with 20 votes out of a possible 39 deciding the outcome on November 15.

The Irish bid team is led by the Taoiseach, Ireland's Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, along with Sports Minister Shane Ross, IRFU chief executive Philip Browne and Dick Spring, a former deputy Prime Minister who played rugby for Ireland in his youth.

Ireland is one of three countries bidding to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup ©Getty Images
Ireland is one of three countries bidding to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup ©Getty Images

“The diaspora are a very important element of our proposition," added Potts.

"We intend to demonstrate just how critical they can be in assisting Ireland and World Rugby create a global stadium of 70 million people and in ensuring the eyes of the world will be focused on Ireland and rugby for six solid weeks in 2023.

The bid team has promised a "tournament like no other, full of Irish spirit, that will capture the imagination of the world and help to drive rugby’s global momentum".

It claims its proposal covers every logistical aspect of staging a Rugby World Cup, including bid vision, commitment, commercial proposition, match venues, visitor welcome, accessibility and global network.

The bid is also being backed by the Northern Ireland authorities with Belfast's Kingspan Stadium and Casement Park among those earmarked to stage games during the tournament.

Others include the Aviva Stadium and Croke Park, both of which are in Dublin, and Thomond Park in Limerick.