Mbalula firm on bid ban
SA Rugby to engage minister over whether it can push ahead with 2023 RWC plans
FRIDAY MAY 13 2016
SA RUGBY remains hopeful of bidding for the 2023 World Cup, but the government says it will not relent from a ban that prohibits the union from launching bids in the next 12 months for major international events.
Andy Colquhoun, the general manager for corporate affairs, said SA Rugby would engage with Minister of Sports and Recreation Fikile Mbalula on whether it will be allowed to push ahead with its bid plans.
But no meeting has yet been set up, and with the application process for prospective bidders starting next month, a spokesman for Mbalula said the government would not change its stance.
Esethu Hasane, the spokesman for the Department of Sports and Recreation. said: “There has been no request for a meeting by SA Rugby and the situation remains the same as when the minister announced that privileges enjoyed by these particular federations, which included SA Rugby, to bid for major international events had been revoked.”
The government says they must wait until their performance is reviewed in April to have the sanction lifted.
The announcement of the host for 2023 is due to be made by World Rugby in November next year, which could leave open the possibility of a late bid by South Africa after the ban ends.
“As far as we are concerned, the only time the minister may decide to lift the ban is with the release of the next Eminent Persons Group report (on sports transformation),” Hasane said.
The government has been pushing for more black players to be included in the nation’s most popular sports, but more than two decades after the end of apartheid, whites still make up the bulk of the players in cricket, netball and rugby.
South Africa staged and won the World Cup in 1995, but had failed bids for the 2011, 2015 and 2019 competitions.
Since the first tournament in 1987, hosts have alternated between Europe and the rest of the world, meaning any decision for South Africa in 2023 would be a break with tradition.
The 2019 World Cup will take place in Japan.
Ireland, France and Italy have also publicly expressed their interest in hosting the tournament in 2023. – Reuters
THEY MUST WAIT UNTIL THEIR PERFORMANCE REVIEW IN APRIL 2017 TO HAVE THE SANCTION LIFTED