SA Rugby won’t bid to host RWC

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander says he will tell the national body not to bid for the 2035 or 2039 Rugby World Cup tournaments.

South Africa hosted the global showpiece for the first and only time in 1995. Since then, there have been failed bids from SA Rugby for the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments.

Australia and the USA will host the 2027 and 2031 World Cups respectively, with Spain the early favourite to stage the 3035 event as World Rugby looks to bring it back to Europe. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also reportedly considering a joint bid.

Deputy minister of sport, art and culture Peace Mabe recently said the SA government would support a bid to host the 2035 tournament if corporate stakeholders came on board to make it financially viable.

But Alexander told the Sunday Times the country couldn’t afford to bid again.

“Sure there is an economic impact and the last time we put together a bid for the 2023 tournament it was R6.8-billion. However, government has to provide a lot of support by way of infrastructure and security. There is also the financial guarantee that has to be provided up front.”

South Africa provided World Rugby with a guarantee of R4-billion when bidding for the 2023 World Cup.

SA Rugby would also have to spend millions of rands to upgrade stadiums.

“We know some stadiums have not been maintained properly,” said Alexander. “It just brings so many other challenges to the country. People think it is just a sports event but so many other things have to be activated.

“I will tell Saru not to do this. There’s other stuff more urgent than the World Cup. We are a third-world country. Our economy is not strong and we have to act responsibly.

“I know our members would love to host the World Cup but for now and all the challenges we have, we will be putting the country through undue pressure. I know sport does a lot for social cohesion but I think it would be unfair on government to put up guarantees. I think it will be unfair as a sport to put our country through that again.”

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