Sunday Times

RWC 2023 — it’s all systems go

- CRAIG RAY

A RUGBY World Cup (RWC) 2023 technical committee that was in the country over the past week to begin its assessment of SA Rugby’s bid for the showpiece, left with guarantees of government support.

That is despite a ban on SA Rugby bidding for mega events still officially in place after Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula imposed it 11 months ago.

But Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, who addressed the RWC delegation at a gathering in parliament on Wednesday, assured them that the bid had government’s full backing.

That assurance came just 24 hours after Mbalula himself declared that government was fully behind SA Rugby’s attempt to bring the event to South Africa for the first time since 1995.

Mbalula imposed the ban based on the findings of a 2016 report from the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on sports transforma­tion. But this week, EPG chairman Willie Basson confirmed to the Sunday Times that an updated report had been handed to the minister.

Basson did not want to preempt the minister’s final decision but said that the “outcome of the process has led to significan­t improvemen­ts”.

The fact that Mbalula himself declared government’s support for Rugby World Cup 2023 on Tuesday indicates that the follow-up EPG report contains good news for SA Rugby.

“The sports minister now fully supports the RWC 2023 bid. There isn’t a question mark over that,” Hanekom told the Sunday Times. “There was some concern [from the RWC delegation] but that has been put to rest.

“Personally speaking, in terms of transforma­tion, rugby has made massive gains. Certainly at national level it’s hardly an issue because nobody counts numbers anymore.

“I can’t comment about whether the ban should be publicly rescinded, but we should SPORTS CHIEF: Fikile Mbalula welcome the news that Minister Mbalula has given the bid his public support rather than push him into a corner about formally rescinding the ban.”

With World Rugby asking SA THUMBS UP: Derek Hanekom Rugby for guarantees of £240-million (about R3.7-billion), government’s financial support is essential. Besides finance though, no mega event can be staged without the full backing of all the organs of state, from security to transport and tourism.

SA Rugby refrained from commenting at this stage while attempts to reach Mbalula and the department’s directorge­neral Alec Moemi were unsuccessf­ul.

Hanekom though was bullish about South Africa’s prospects after meeting the delegation, even though government’s lack of formal support over the past 11 months has put the SA Rugby bid on the back foot against Ireland and France.

“I was able to talk about what great value a mega event such as a Rugby World Cup has for our country, but I also spoke about our own state of readiness, which they [the delegation] have no doubt about,” Hanekom said.

“The response from their side was positive, but they couldn’t pre-empt the outcome because there are three countries bidding for the tournament.

“One thing they acknowledg­ed is that from an infrastruc­ture perspectiv­e we are very strong and have a serious advantage because of developmen­t we did for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

“We have great stadiums spread around the country, so we are absolutely ready in terms of stadia, airports, roads, accommodat­ion and also reputation.”

Hanekom wouldn’t put a figure on potential earnings from hosting the World Cup, but he was confident it would produce a profit.

“I would say with a degree of confidence that hosting RWC 2023 would be a net generator of revenue because there is no massive outlay of money on infrastruc­ture,” Hanekom said.

“The side benefits would also be huge. For the period of the event you get a lot of visitors to your country, but more importantl­y the visuals of your country on display gives tourism in general a massive boost.”

SA Rugby will formally submit its final bid book on June 1.

In terms of transforma­tion, rugby has made massive gains We’re ready in terms of stadia, airports, roads, accommodat­ion

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