WATCH: World Cup winner full of praise for newly-opened International Rugby Experience

THE International Rugby Experience has opened its doors to the public following Tuesday's opening ceremony which attracted some of the biggest rugby stars in the world.

The interactive experience, which is expected to attract around 100,000 visitors a year is in a six-storey state-of-the-art red brick building and focuses on themes that are central to rugby: integrity, discipline, solidarity, respect and passion.

Fans can see clips from iconic sporting moments as well as practice kicking, running and passing skills with players such as Keith Earls, Tadhg Furlong, Jonny Wilkinson and Faf de Klerk through the interactive technology.

At the official opening, former Irish International, Keith Wood spoke about the entire project coming together.

“It's magic and to think it's in the middle of O’Connell Street in Limerick is pretty amazing. When you look at the team of people that have had to deliver all this, it's been pretty extraordinary.

“And from six years ago, from an initial conversation from Paul (O’Connell) and JP (McManus) to trying to deliver something for the city of Limerick to trying to be something that's focused on the sort of integral part that rugby has within the city of Limerick, it has turned into something extraordinary,” he told the Limerick Leader/Limerick Live.

In Pictures: Superstars launch International Rugby Experience in Limerick

Another former player who attended the opening ceremony was former South African winger and World Cup winner Bryan Habana (watch video above).

The €30 million International Rugby Experience is funded through the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and an economic impact study has estimated that within five years it will bring €50 million in tourism revenue to Limerick and the Mid-West region.

It opened to the public this Wednesday.