campervan rental for rugby world cup 2015

Hi everyone.
Brand new to MC and as of yet I'm not a motorhome/campervan owner, but (mentally at least) I'm edging closer to becoming one rapidly!
What first put the notion in my head was my desire to travel to Wales/England next year (October) for the rugby world cup. Someone mentioned the campervan possibility and it stuck with me.
Now there is a fair-good chance that I may well be the proud possessor of a campervan by then, but if I weren't to be, do people (privately) rent out their campervans much/at all? If so then would insurance cover travelling to the UK?

I'm a dad in my late 30s, and would be travelling with one (possibly two but no more than that) friend of a similar description.
I'm located in the Waterford area if that helps much.

And if this were not to be an option for me, what about renting one privately for some weekend, (to stay within the country!) say for a Friday and Saturday night. Is this something that is done?
Ideally this is what I would do to get a feel for the lifestyle and comfort etc before committing to a purchase.

Any responses/suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.

Yeah I totally get that alright tfc! I can't imagine myself being the type that would give it out on loan either were I to own one. (Hope that doesn't make me too much of a hypocrite!)

Currently my thinking is to stick my toe in the water by buying an older model for something under €10,000 and give it 12 months or so (or maybe after the world cup!). Worst case scenario I could sell it on again...or am i being naive here?

I imagine the older models run a bigger risk of engine trouble or require more maintenance of all functioning apparatuses, but I'd be prepared for that. Ya get what ya pay for etc.

Like the controller said it would be hard to rent private i to have refused my son mine for a weekend as for a cheep m/h before we got ours we must have looked at hundreds before we bought a 1997peougot boxer it had only 40,000 miles but we have spent a lit of mony on it and it is now our pride and joy ,you've got to look are you going to like m/hing so it wise not to spend loads of money,and at the same time don't buy a minger find someone that has a m/h and can show you all the pitfalls ie damp gas electric wiring and more hope this don't put you of but it's a lot of hard earned cash you will be parting with better to get it right first time

Lonesome, you are doing the right thing, doing the research first and there are books on the subject you can buy.
But whilst the books may offer practical advice on buying a MH it will not be able to workout the best layout for you, we all have different wants, needs and lets not forget budgets.
The other thing I would suggest is the quality of the interior of the MH the appliances etc. Many MH travel less than 5000 miles a year and as long as they are serviced should run and run.
My first experience was in a rented MH based on a LWB Ford Transit van, it was still a van but coverted and had a WC and shower etc. I could not use the shower it was too small and I am not a big bloke. The toilet was also very small but handy at night.
Hire a couple of different shapes/sizes/layouts and you could save yourself in the long run.
I met a bloke on a campsite who was showing me his MH, fine thing it was cost £50000 new, he told me his neighbour bought exactly the same used it for 2 nights and sold it straight afterwards loss £10000.
A previous neighbour of mine bought a 2002 MH last year for nearly £18000 and has not slept in once in 11 months as the dogs won't settle.
Good luck and enjoy the rugby.

I can understand the cost if hiring is expensive but not if you combine it with a nice holiday, especially if you wild camp it works out ok when compared to hotels or b&bs. But it's not until you start using a mh until you realise what you are missing. That inspect loads think about do you mind changing a bed back into a dining room, is there enough work surface to prepare food, do you need an oven or will a hob and grill do. You get there in the end a hopefully we will see you down the line.