Boris Johnson wants London to become the world city of sport

London Mayor Boris Johnson wants the city to be involved in hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

England jointly staged the event in 1991 with the other home unions and have lodged their interest, along with Wales, in hosting it again in 2015.

Johnson told BBC Sport: "We've shown we can lay on fantastic sporting events. Britain has invented or codified virtually every major sport.

"I think it would be wonderful for London if we held the Rugby World Cup."

Johnson is determined to promote London as the world city of sport and build on the momentum of hosting the 2012 Olympics.

He added: "We have a city where people speak 300 languages, we have unbelievable tourist facilities and it's now Europe's number one tourist destination.".

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If England's Rugby Football Union is successful with its World Cup bid, having missed out to France in 2007, the 2015 tournament could see matches held at Twickenham, Wembley and the new Olympic Stadium.

London has already hosted a stage of the Tour de France and an NFL game at Wembley, and will host the world gymnastics championships and the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup.

A spokesman for the Rugby Football Union said it would "do everything in our power to bring the World Cup to England in 2015".

The International Rugby Board will make a final decision on 28 July next year.

England are reported to have held informal talks with Wales to jointly host the Cup, with the final being played at Twickenham.

Japan, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales have also expressed an interest in hosting the Cup.