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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Gerard Meagher

Rugby World Cups aren’t adding up for major unions and there is no easy fix

World Rugby Rugby World Cup World Cups Bill Sweeney Rugby World Cup Andy Farrell South Africa Henry Pollock Kevin Potts
Siya Kolisi of South Africa lifts the Webb Ellis Cup after victory against New Zealand in 2023
South Africa’s Siya Kolisi lifts the Webb Ellis Cup after victory against New Zealand in 2023. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

The starting gun has been fired on the race to host the 2035 and 2039 Rugby World Cup tournaments. Expressions of interest have been made: Spain’s proposal has piqued interest, Italy’s too, while the Middle East stalks along as the elephant in the room. The idea of going back to Japan within 20 years of a first World Cup in Asia is a popular proposition.

News came over the weekend, however, that South Africa has all but ruled out a bid for either edition of the tournament. South Africa threw its hat into the ring in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 but was overlooked on each occasion and the SA Rugby president, Mark Alexander, was brutally honest when asked about the prospect of doing so again.

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