The Furious Reaction To France Being Awarded The 2023 Rugby World Cup
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Farce 2023.
France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup after beating off competition from both Ireland and South Africa.
South Africa had been recommended to host the event after World Rugby’s technical review, but the council decided to go against the recommendation and award it to the French.
No country gained a majority in the first round, with France and South Africa battling it out in the second after Ireland gained just eight votes. In the end France defeated South Africa by 24 votes to 15.
Many were critical of the outcome and process, which went against the official 15-month recommendation process.
South African Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said:
“We are bitterly disappointed at this decision.
“World Rugby ran an exhaustive, transparent process for 15 months to identify the best host nation, only for the process to go entirely opaque for the past two weeks.”
Here’s how some of the rugby world reacted on social media:
France to host RWC2023, if rugby hasn’t imploded by then… Political vote hijacks a process which was meant to be fair and transparent.
— Chris Foy (@FoyChris) November 15, 2017
Massive egg on the faces of World Rugby. So much for independent processes. So much for a fair process.
— Brenden Nel (@BrendenNel) November 15, 2017
humiliation for World Rugby
— owenslotTheTimes (@owenslot) November 15, 2017
And the public…
Ridiculous decision to award RWC to a country only ten years after they last hosted it.
— Kevin Bateson (@kevbateson) November 15, 2017
How much bribes did France pay you??
— DG Vermaak (@dgvermaak) November 15, 2017
What a jokeHow did this happen? Credibility is completely gone. This whole process has been a farce and shambles. There must have been some serious brown envelopes flying around the place Well done France but serious questions need to be asked .
— Paul O Mahony (@PaulOMahony5) November 15, 2017
The last Southern Hemisphere nation to host the Rugby World Cup was New Zealand, in 2011. England 2015, Japan 2019 and now France 2023. How can this be a fair result when a sizable chunk of World Rugby's income and fans hail from south of the equator? @Springboks @SARugbymag
— Christina Kennedy (@Journovixen) November 15, 2017
Really? It was in France 10 years ago. This is madness
— Amos K Nebonde (@AmosFantaStic12) November 15, 2017
This is the most ridiculous decision World Rugby has ever made… And that includes appointing Bryce Lawrence as a referee…
— A South African (@Waldo225) November 15, 2017
What is the point of having assessment? While France bribe voters. The is no transparenty.
— mdk (@MahlanguMdk) November 15, 2017
World Rugby is now becoming the FIFA of Sepp Blatter, money is becoming a determining factor to its council members when they cast their votes #RWC2023
— DK Mudau (@DeeKee_M) November 15, 2017
“Transparent selection process” lesson learnt – don’t spend big on bid – pay it straight to council members
— Graham Eakin (@Grahameakin) November 15, 2017
