Ireland’s Rugby World Cup 2023 Bid Has Taken A Blow
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France will not go down without a fight.
Ireland, South Africa and France are currently locked in three-way battle to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The Irish currently lead the way with South Africa’s bid under threat due to sports minister Fikile Mbalula, trying to block it, while France have hosted it as recently as 2007.
France’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games is a stumbling block also according to many people, but French Rugby Federation president and former Secretary of State for Sports Bernard Laporte has said they can host both.
“An international event, rugby or otherwise, is a chance for France to shine on the international stage,” Laporte said on Thursday at a France 2023 news conference.
“It’s an additional value for us. You can see that with Brazil they had the 2014 World Cup and the Olympics (in Rio). Japan will have the (Rugby) World Cup in 2019 and the Olympics straight after in Tokyo (2020).
“We won the (right to host) the 2018 Ryder Cup and Euro 2016. The 2007 tournament was a success for us and I am sure 2023 will be.”
France have proven in the past with the 2006 tournament and the recent Euro 2016, that they have the necessary infrastructure to host such an event. France’s track record, and Ireland’s lack of, could play a significant role in deciding who host the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
These latest comments prove that Ireland will face some tough opposition in France, with signs pointing towards them hosting it, as opposed to Ireland.
