South Africa and Italy are lobbying against England’s bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015, arguing that the process was weighted in favour of the British.
UK newspaper The Guardian reports the hosts of the 2015 and 2019 tournaments are due to be named today after a meeting of the International Rugby Board council in Dublin. England and Japan have been recommended to the council by the Rugby World Cup Ltd board as the preferred hosts of the 2015 and 2019 tournaments, respectively.
South Africa says the tender went through changes, one of which was the dropping of a demand for a £80 million government guarantee. South Africa had a guarantee, England did not. South Africa also believes that the decision favoured England from the start, as a tournament there would bring in more cash and help to shore up rugby’s finances after an expected loss-making 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
South Africa and Italy are aiming to force the decision on the 2015 and 2019 host beyond a mere rubber-stamping of the Rugby World Cup Limited recommendations, to a vote of the council members, which would allow South Africa and Italy to make a last-minute pitch, along with the England and Japan.
“Time will be set aside for us to state our case,” said Johan Prinsloo, the chief executive of the South African Rugby Union. “We are concerned about the process that was followed before the recommendations were made. We said as much in a letter to the IRB but, unfortunately, I cannot be specific. We have also spoken to the people we needed to because there were issues and we made sure we went through the right channels.
“We believe we must arrive at the right rugby decision. We have a strong case. We wouldn't go to these extremes if we didn't think we had a chance.”
