Review for cup host process

LONDON: World Rugby plans to review the process in which South Africa was named preferred bidder, only for France to be chosen to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont has denied being humiliated as the membership voted against the recommendation from the governing body’s independent evaluation committee.

Beaumont, who repeatedly defended the bidding process as open and transparent, said: ‘‘A humiliation for me? I don’t think so.

‘‘We’ve made a recommendation. The recommendation wasn’t accepted by council.

‘‘Just because it went to France doesn’t mean there’s humiliation whatsoever.

‘‘We will learn as we move forwards. This is the first time we’ve embarked on this process.’’

South Africa Rugby described the two weeks since it was named preferred candidate as entirely opaque and hit out at rivals France and Ireland for not complying with a code of conduct.

‘‘This is the first time ever World Rugby has made a recommendation and they voted against it,’’ SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said.

‘‘[But] a set of rules was broken during that process, which we are upset about.’’

Alexander was referring to the fallout from the publication of the independent recommendation, in which France and Ireland questioned aspects of the judgement and World Rugby responded to those allegations.

French bid chief Bernard Laporte felt the communication over a ‘‘misunderstanding’’ within the independent report ‘‘helped us — maybe’’.

South Africa felt 99% certain it would be hosting the tournament for a second time, after its successful staging in 1995 when the Springboks won in the first tournament in the postapartheid era.

But South Africa missed out for a fourthsuccessive time.

A simple majority from the 39 votes was required and France claimed 24 in the second round to be selected as host of the 10th edition, ahead of South Africa, after Ireland’s elimination in round one. — BPA