SOUTH AFRICA’S BID to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup has received a huge boost today with the news the country’s department of sport and recreation has lifted its ban on staging international tournaments.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU), Cricket South Africa and the governing bodies responsible for netball and athletics weren’t permitted to bid for, or host, major events having failed to meet transformation targets.
Despite the ban being imposed, SARU continued through World Rugby’s bidding process and emerged as one of three candidates, alongside Ireland and France, vying to stage the 2023 World Cup.
The lifting of the ban does, however, mean the South African government can now officially support SARU’s bid to bring the World Cup back to the country ahead of the final submission of bid documents on 1 June.
“Their right to bid for and host major sporting events, which was revoked before, is hereby immediately reinstated,” said sports minister Thulas Nxesi according to a statement issued by SA Rugby.
“I would like to congratulate rugby, cricket and netball on their improved scores, you were clearly willing to walk the extra mile.”
The World Rugby Council will announce the host union for the 2023 World Cup on 15 November.
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It has to come to Ireland. It would be the best month Ireland has ever seen and will see for a long time
The IRB would be mad to award it to SA
It won’t be going to SA – the place is a basket case
@Thomas Harrington: when has that ever stopped sports governing bodies from awarding events to countries.
@Dan Linehan: true. Basket case status is normally a prerequisite.
@Thomas Harrington: Hopefully this basket case here will get it.
Would love to see it come to Ireland in 2023. It’s a shame though that the Women’s Rugby World Cup which is actually being held in Ireland this year is getting very little media attention and publicity.
It’s probably getting media attention and publicity proportionate to its popularity? It’s definitely getting a lot more attention than the World Barista Championships which were held in Dublin in 2016.
Would absolutely love to see this happen in ireland, imagine the atmosphere! Be fantastic for tourism in the country too.. The only problem is accommodation and security coverage for the months.
I wonder will Enda stay on until the world cup and welcome all the teams to Irelan
Yea that would be Great.
Just to piss Bertie Ahern off, I’d like to see the idea of an Enda Bowl being tossed around.
Yeah lets have it here because we are gifted with fantastic stadiums. That can accommodate this….. wait hold on a minute
@Gavin Redmond: we actually have plenty
@Gavin Redmond: We’ve a better stadium, accommodation and transportation set up than New Zealand and that didn’t stop them hosting it recently.