South Africa hungry to host Rugby World Cup, 28 years on
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The South African Rugby Union (SARU) was ready to prepare a compelling bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, said Jurie Roux, SARU CEO, on Friday following confirmation that four nations had expressed an interest to host the tournament.
Tournament owner, World Rugby, announced that France, Ireland and Italy as well as South Africa had confirmed their interest by the deadline of 15 June. A fifth country, USA, which had expressed interest in lodging a bid, had decided not to proceed.
“Last week the 1995 Springbok Rugby World Cup squad regathered to celebrate their momentous victory 20 years ago,” said Roux. “There was unprecedented media interest in the occasion and we were reminded what a profound effect the tournament had on this country and the enthusiasm with which this country opened its arms to rugby.
“That hunger has been sharpened over the years with a whole generation having grown up envying the experience of their parents. The South African Rugby Union would very much like to give them the opportunity to share our passion for rugby with the rest of the world, 28 years on from that famous day.”
World Rugby predicts that the 2023 tournament will boost the hosting nation’s economy by as much as $2.6bn (R31bn) while tournament costs are modest. From 2003 to 2015 the tournament had cost the host nation between $45m and $155m (R552m to R1.9bn) compared to the expense of hosting an event such as the FIFA World Cup which, in 2014, cost $3.1bn (R38bn).
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “We are delighted with the strong level of Rugby World Cup 2023 hosting interest from unions and governments, which highlights the enormous appeal of Rugby World Cup as a low-risk, high-return economic, social and sporting driver. We look forward to further detailed dialogue as the process progresses.”
The tender process will culminate in the selection of the 2023 host in May 2017.
Rugby World Cup Tournament Director Alan Gilpin said: “The candidate hosts now have a year to benefit from detailed knowledge-sharing and preparation, including digesting the detailed tender requirements and observing Rugby World Cup 2015 hosting, before the confirmation to tender deadline of June 2016.
“The announcement of the Rugby World Cup 2023 host in May 2017 will also provide the successful union with six years to prepare for the delivery of the event and maximise the benefits of observing the delivery of Japan 2019, the first Rugby World Cup to be hosted in Asia.”
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