Ireland's hopes of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup have received a huge boost today with the news that the South African government have blocked the South African Rugby Union's bid to host the tournament. South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula announced today that he has revoked the privileges of South Africa's cricket, rugby, netball and athletics from hosting international tournaments for failing to meet their transformation targets.
By decree of the South African government, all sports had to meet 'transformation targets', meaning they had to include a certain percentage of black athletes in their sports. The announcement was made at the third of four scheduled audits of each sport's progress to meeting their transformation targets. While Mbalula praised South Africa's football association for meeting their target, rugby were among those punished for missing out:
EPG Transformation Report stats #EPGreport pic.twitter.com/GMf8OgBZdz
— Dep. Sport & Rec (@SPORTandREC_RSA) April 25, 2016
Fikile Mbalula's 'ban' only applies to new events so Super Rugby, Boks, sevens etc will be unaffected. Only 2023 RWC bid in jeopardy.
— Simon Borchardt (@SimonBorchardt) April 25, 2016
South Africa were seen as Ireland's main rivals to host the tournament. They last hosted the tournament in 1995, and were unsuccessful in bidding for the 2011, 2015 and 2019 tournaments. Along with Ireland and South Africa, the other two confirmed bidders are France - hosts 0f the 2007 competition - and Italy, who lost out by just three votes to England for the right to host the 2015 edition of the competition.
Other unions have until June of this year to submit their tenders for the tournament, with the United States and Argentina declining to submit to the formal process having expressed initial interest in staging the tournament.
The host for the 2023 World Cup will be announced by World Rugby in May 2017.
