World Rugby report recommends South Africa as 2023 host in a blow to Ireland and France

By Adam Ellis
South Africa are leading the pack in the right to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup after the World Rugby technical review board recommended the bid from the SARU over Ireland and France.
Ireland had been odds-on favourites with bookmakers yesterday evening ahead of the publication of the report, which saw South Africa proposed with a percentage of 79%, to France's 76% and Ireland's 72%.
The final decision on the winning bid will be ratified by the World Rugby Council in London on 15 November meaning Ireland still has a shot at hosting a maiden World Cup, after South Africa won the right in 1995 and France in 2007.
The recommendation of South Africa comes after all three bidders made their final pitches on the 27 September and is the result of four years of hard work to claim the sport's lucrative showpiece event.
Estimates placed the benefits of hosting the World Cup to be worth upwards of £650million to the economy in Ireland, who would had the Aviva Stadium, Croke Park, Thomond Park and Ulster's Kingspan Stadium among their list of venues for the tournament.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said there were “three exceptional bids”.
He added: “It also identified South Africa as a clear leader based on performance against the key criteria, which is supported by the board in the recommendation.”
A statement that did nothing to leave Dick Spring, the chairman of the Ireland 2023 bid, feeling downbeat.
“We absolutely believe Ireland can secure the tournament for 2023,” Spring said defiantly.
“It is clear that the evaluation commission is impressed by the quality and detail of the bid put forward on behalf of Ireland.