With Another Nation Out, When Will Ireland Find Out If It Will Host The 2023 Rugby World Cup?

Ireland's chances of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup received a massive boost yesterday, when Argentinian president Mauricio Macri revealed that his nation would instead focus their efforts on a bid for the 2027 tournament.

Argentina reportedly felt 2023 would be too short a timescale to sufficiently prepare the country for such an event, and as such, one of Ireland's major competitors in the race to host rugby's most famed event has fallen by the wayside.

It will now be left to South Africa - who will presumably re-enter the race following a temporary, self-imposed withdrawal - along with Italy, France (though the 2007 hosts are yet to launch an official bid) and Ireland to present their bids to World Rugby.

But, with all of this in mind, when will Ireland find out if it will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

The process from May 2016 is as follows:

• Next month, there is a deadline for unions to confirm their intent to tender a bid; this is where France will presumably raise its hand.
• In the summer of 2017, World Rugby will make its decision as to which country will host in 2023.
• In November 2017, the host nation will be officially announced to the world. (The official announcement was officially scheduled for May 2017, but will now occur in November, with World Rugby likely coming to a final decision as late as July).

Many have suggested South Africa as the leading candidate due to its positioning below the equator; 2019 will see northern hemisphere Japan play host, and every World Cup so far has alternated between northern and southern hemispheres.

However, South Africa's Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, recently banned SA Rugby from bidding for international tournaments - hence the current uncertainty.

Without South Africa, both Ireland and Italy (two-time u-20s RWC hosts) would be expected to battle it out for hosting privileges.

More should become clear next month, but November of 2017 is when Ireland will find out if it will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.