A prominent rugby boss says South Africa can’t afford to host the Rugby World Cup again.
SA staged the global showpiece for the first and only time in 1995, with Springbok captain Francois Pienaar famously lifting the trophy next to a cheering President Nelson Mandela at Ellis Park.
Since then, SA Rugby has bid to host the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 events, without success.
The failed 2023 bid was hugely controversial, with the Rugby World Cup Limited board unanimously recommending to the World Rugby Council that South Africa host the tournament, only for the council to vote for France after intense lobbying from the French bid committee.
The 2027 and 2031 World Cup tournaments will be hosted by Australia and the USA respectively.
Spain are reportedly the early favourites to win the 2035 bid as World Rugby looks to take the tournament back to Europe, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar (which successfully hosted the 2022 Fifa World Cup) and the UAE could also prepare a joint bid.
“I don’t think South Africa can compete financially to host the World Cup anymore,” the rugby boss told Rapport.
“The World Cup is the only real revenue stream for World Rugby, so they will always go where the big money can be made.”
MORE: SA won’t bid to host R300m World Cup
For South Africa to host the World Cup again, the government would have to make a big financial commitment, which it is unlikely to do.
SA Rugby would also have to spend millions of rands to upgrade stadiums.
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