South Africa’s Rugby World Cup Bid

The South Africa Rugby Union has submitted a bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015 or 2019. The proposal was made to the International Rugby Board in Dublin on 13 May 2009 with Italy, England and Japan competing to host the top event on the world’s rugby calendar.

South Africa was the host and ultimate winner of the Rugby World Cup in 1995. The ongoing memory of Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok jersey, handing the trophy to captain Francios Pienaar provides a backdrop for South Africa to host this event again. The bid has the financial backing of the South African government and support from leading rugby personalities including John Smit, captain of the winning team in 2007.

The IRB will inspect venues of all potential host countries before announcing the winners. Johannesburg’s newly renovated Soccer City with a 90,000 seat capacity is proposed as the venue for the opening and closing matches and other sports stadiums built since the 1995 event add to South Africa’s potential to host future events. There is speculation that with the British and Irish Lions tour starting in late May 2009 that South Africa has a leading chance of success as it demonstrates it’s readiness to host another Rugby World Cup and the wave of visitors on South Africa rugby holidays.

The host countries for the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and 2019 will be announced on 28 July 2009.

2 by 2 Holidays are specialists in South Africa rugby holidays.

Related Articles