South Africa provided Rugby World Cup hosting lifeline due to government intervention days after ‘prominent rugby boss’ delivered big blow

South Africa provided Rugby World Cup hosting lifeline but SA government don’t want to be ‘bullies’

The South African government has provided hope that the four-time winners could still host a men’s Rugby World Cup over the next 15 years.

While it will not be in 2027 or 2031, which are taking place in Australia and the USA respectively, they have provided a lifeline over the next two tournaments.

Last week, it emerged that Spain had thrown their hat into the ring for the 2035 World Cup, enticing World Rugby with the possibility of playing matches at some iconic football stadiums including Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou.

Middle East getting involved

There is also the suggestion that the oil-rich Middle Eastern nations, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE, could table a joint bid, one which would be financially lucrative for the sport, but that might be preferred for 2039.

Plenty of competition, therefore, stands in SA Rugby’s way, but deputy minister of Sports, Art and Culture, Peace Mabe has suggested it could be viable.

“Rugby is big business,” Mabe told IOL.

“The economic spin-offs in terms of tourism will be big. If (SA) Rugby says we are going to host in South Africa, it will fill up hotels with immediate effect, they would be booked. We would appreciate that type of initiative.

“But, we are the No. 1 team in the world, so we also don’t want to be seen as bullies by taking the hosting away from the world. Let’s share with them.”

Although the Springboks have won the World Cup on four occasions, they have only hosted it once – the famous 1995 success in which Nelson Mandela handed captain Francois Pienaar the Webb Ellis Cup.

SA Rugby have tried desperately to get it back to South Africa since 2010 but have been overlooked for the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments.

2023 World Cup scandal

The last one was the most controversial, with World Rugby giving it to France despite them hosting it in 2007 and the build-up being dominated by a number of scandals.

Springboks centre Damian de Allende was one of those to hit out at the French, stating in June last year that “people forget what France did to host the World Cup again.”

That decision by the game’s governing body caused a certain amount of understandable bitterness within South Africa, particularly with their chances of hosting another World Cup diminishing.

On Sunday, a ‘prominent rugby boss’ told Rapport that they don’t think South Africa would ever have the fiscal power to host the tournament again.

“I don’t think South Africa can compete financially to host the World Cup anymore,” the rugby boss said.

“The World Cup is the only real revenue stream for World Rugby, so they will always go where the big money can be made.”

However, the latest update is that it could be viable if corporate stakeholders come on board to aid SA Rugby and the government.

Mabe has therefore given the nation some hope that the World Cup could return to South Africa after 40 years of being overlooked by World Rugby.