South Africa’s chances of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup might have received a boost after Ireland’s bid appeared to be in jeopardy. On Tuesday, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux handed in the South African 827-page, 8.2kg bid document to World Rugby headquarters in Dublin, brimming with confidence it was a winning bid and predicting the 2023 Rugby World Cup in South Africa would bring R27bn into the country. It’s the fourth time South Africa is making a bid to host the competition, failing in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Also in the running are France and Ireland. But, after the recent news of problems with the Irish bid, it might be a two-horse race. – David O’Sullivan
From Sport24
According to a report, Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup faces a major stumbling block.
Ireland are one of three nations – along with South Africa and France – in the running to host the showpiece in six years’ time, but according to the Irish Independent website that bid has now been thrown into doubt.
According to the article, which was published on Wednesday night, Ireland’s sports minister Shane Ross faces issues getting the legislation passed that he requires to support the country’s bid.
Ross was forced to pen a letter to Ireland’s committee for Transport, Sport and Tourism in which he requested “emergency legislation” to support the bid.
Ross added that government was under “extreme time pressure” to provide World Rugby with certain guarantees.
SA Rugby yesterday delivered what they believed was a winning bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup >> https://t.co/PKXI3MR0qL #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/YQ5zyc4Fmv
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) May 31, 2017
As a result, the sports minister has been heavily criticised by some Irish politicians for his lack of preparation.
The deadline for countries to submit their final bids to World Rugby was June 1.
South Africa did that on Tuesday, and SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux is confident that he has a winning bid.
South Africa, who also had their own troubles in securing government backing for their bid, last hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995.
World Rugby is expected to announce the 2023 hosts in November this year. – Sport24
Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/irelands-2023-world-cup-bid-in-doubt-20170601
