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THERE REMAINS AN ELEMENT OF CONFUSION IN SOME QUARTERS THAT FRANCE WON THE HOSTING RIGHTS TO THE 2023 WORLD CUP, AFTER SOMEHOW MANAGING TO PERSUADE A MAJORITY OF VOTING MEMBERS TO GO AGAINST THE PREFERRED BIDDER, SOUTH AFRICA.
France were confirmed as hosts of the 2023 event a er they won 24 of the 39 votes available. South Africa picked up 14 votes, with a second round of voting required a er there was no clear majority in the first.
Ireland dropped out a er the first round a er picking up only eight votes.
But the fact France were successful, was a surprise as World Rugby hoped that by having all three bids independently assessed, the vote would have been a straightforward case of rubber-stamping the preferred option.
The members weren’t bound to vote in accordance with the recommendation, but all had agreed to the new process having expressed concerns that the horse trading associated with previous World Cup hosting bids had to stop.
Both France and Ireland, though, were vocal in their displeasure with the independent assessment which placed them well behind South Africa.
The French in particular rubbished the methodology and it is believed they, and Ireland, were lobbying hard behind the scenes for the last two weeks trying to curry favour with voting members.
World Rugby chairman, Bill Beaumont, said: “Congratulations to France on being elected Rugby World Cup 2023 host. They presented a very strong and comprehensive bid, which clearly resonated with the council today.
“We had three outstanding host candidates, who raised the bar and overwhelmingly demonstrated that they were all capable of hosting an exceptional Rugby World Cup. There was very little to choose between the candidates and this was reflected in the independently audited evaluation report.
Jurie Roux, chief executive of South Africa Rugby, said: “World Rugby ran an exhaustive, transparent process for 15 months to identify the best host nation, only for the process to go entirely opaque for the past two weeks.
“The view of the experts and World Rugby’s leadership was overturned by World Rugby Council members.”
World Rugby ran an exhaustive, transparent process for 15 months to identify the best host nation, only for the process to go entirely opaque for the past two weeks. ‘CONGRATULATIONS TO FRANCE ON BEING ELECTED RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 HOST. THEY PRESENTED A VERY STRONG AND COMPREHENSIVE BID, WHICH CLEARLY RESONATED WITH THE COUNCIL TODAY.’ Bill Beaumont