SA’s irresistible bid

OFFERS WINS FOR RUGBY, FOR FANS AND FOR THE PLAYERS And 2.9 million seats – 400 000 more than very successful England 2015 event.

South Africa has unveiled a “triple-win” bid in London to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says will unite not just the country but the global community.

Speaking at the World Rugby Council yesterday, Ramaphosa recalled the unforgettable 1995 Rugby World Cup which South Africa hosted and won. “In 1995, the Rugby World Cup cemented the bonds between our diverse people.

“In 2023, we hope to use the Rugby World Cup to inspire and unite not only South Africans, but the global community of nations. In a world facing the threat of polarisation, intolerance and indifference, SA is best poised to demonstrate that rugby can break barriers, create hope and unite humanity.

“The people and government of South Africa are therefore wholeheartedly behind SA Rugby’s bid. We have proven we can deliver.”

The 50-minute presentation to the council was led by Ramaphosa and Sports and Recreation Minister Thulas Nxesi. They drew on a South African Rugby World Cup being a win for the sport, a win for supporters and most importantly a win for the players.

“South Africa’s bid is simple. We promise to make World Rugby proud by hosting an unforgettable celebration of rugby that delivers on every single bid requirement,” Nxesi said. “We don’t need to build new stadia or upgrade old ones; we don’t need to find hotel rooms and you don’t need to worry about the guarantees. We don’t need to pass new legislation. Every last detail of the required specifications are already in place.

“We have a deep and burning desire to host this tournament – not just for South Africa, but for rugby. We want to share our passion with the world and provide the sport with a carnival that’s vibrantly African, which will engulf our country, capture a continent and inspire the world.”

CEO of SA Rugby Jurie Roux said SA ticked every single box of the financial, commercial and logistical requirements to be the

An irrevocable £160 million gov- ernment guarantee will underpin a record profit.

Facilities, scheduling and logistics host. “But we go way beyond the minimum requirements to set us apart as a candidate. We were asked to provide a minimum guarantee of £120 million (R2.1 billion), but with unqualified support from our government we are offering an extra £40 million.

“We were asked to provide eight venues, the smallest of which must have a minimum capacity of 15 000, but we offer eight venues – built for rugby and requiring no upgrading – with the smallest one offering capacity of 43 500. And we will host the largest-ever Rugby World Cup final with 87 436 fans at the National Stadium in Johannesburg.

“Our stadia allow us to place more tickets on sale than ever before; a South African Rugby World Cup would make available 2.9 million seats – 400 000 more than the highly successful England 2015 tournament.

“But, most importantly, this will be the most player-centric tournament ever; it will be unprecedented in comfort, convenience and support,” Roux said.

“Player performance will be optimal, given the ideal playing conditions, world-class match venues and training facilities and a match schedule with low travel impact – 85% of pool matches will be played in a team’s home base; the longest trip to a training venue will be 17 minutes.”

The fans travelling to the event would have a favourable exchange rate and a range of iconic tourist attractions to experience too.

SA is bidding against Ireland and France for the rights to host the tournament. Rugby World Cup Ltd will announce its preferred candidate on October 31. That recommendation will be put to a vote of the World Rugby Council on November 15.

South Africa is bidding against Ireland and France