Bidding process review

The bidding process for the Rugby World Cup is expected to be overhauled in the wake of the controversy that accompanied France’s shock victory over South Africa and Ireland to host the 2023 tournament in a secret ballot last month. World Rugby was left in a humiliating position after the governing body’s council voted against its board, who had recommended that South Africa be nominated as hosts following an independent evaluation report. World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper announced the review after admitting the process had left the governing body “open to what is a perceived contradiction that doesn’t look tidy”.