NZ Rugby ponders Cup vote

NZ Rugby will be influenced by a recommendation from a World Rugby executive committee before voting on who they want to host the 2023 World Cup, chief executive Steve Tew says.

France, Ireland and South Africa, who will formally present their bids to World Rugby in London next week, have already given NZ Rugby an insight into why they should win the right to host the event.

‘‘All three countries, actually, have visited New Zealand and presented to our board so we have got a good feel for what they have,’’ Tew said, describing the bids as compelling.

Although South Africa are a member of the Sanzaar family it appears NZ Rugby will not be swayed by their geographical proximity, or the fact the Springboks form a key component of the Rugby Championship.

Tew noted World Rugby would appoint a couple of companies to unpick the bids from the three countries before providing an evaluation to Rugby World Cup Ltd. That will be reported to a RWC executive committee and they will make a recommendation based on that to the council. The NZ Rugby board will give a mandate as to who their organisation will vote for. The voting process will be completed in November.

‘‘It is fair to say we will be heavily influenced by the recommendation,’’ Tew said.

‘‘It seems odd to have an independent evaluation process done and then ignore the recommendation. Unless there is a very, very good reason to do that. We don’t play any other games in rugby, so that is where we are at.’’

While there has always been an evaluation process, this is the first time a ‘‘recommendation’’ will be made by the RWC executive committee.

‘‘They are very good bids,’’ Tew added. ‘‘All are putting a decent chunk of money on the table which is important because World Rugby only generates four years worth of expense income in the one event.’’

France have already declared they will put up an extra $53 million, on top of the $220 million hosting fee required by RWC, if they are granted hosting rights. This figure is reported to be guaranteed by the French government.

Meanwhile, while the All Blacks and Wallabies are poised to play a Bledisloe Cup game outside of Australasia next year, Tew wouldn’t reveal where the game would be held.

In the past matches have been relocated to Tokyo and Hong Kong, with varying success. The most recent match in Hong Kong in 2010 was not a sell-out.

The All Blacks and Ireland attracted a bumper crowd at Soldier Field in Chicago late last year, while the Wallabies and Pumas also played a Rugby Championship match in London.

‘‘We are always working to make the most of the opportunity in terms of generating some revenue,’’ Tew said. ‘‘But … if you are taking the All Blacks brand somewhere you want to make sure it makes an impact.’’

The All Blacks will play their third Bledisloe Cup match against

the Wallabies in Brisbane next month, but whether they will employ security consultant Adrian Gard is up to team manager Darren Shand.

Last month Gard was found not guilty of lying to Sydney police following the ‘‘bug-gate’’ court case, which involved a listening device being found in the All Blacks hotel in 2016.

Tew believed there was no reason why Gard couldn’t work for the All Blacks, but said that decision was up to Shand.

The investigation into allegations about All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith’s private life are still ongoing. An independent lawyer had been appointed.