SA focus RWC 2023 bid on 8 stadiums

Soccer City, which hosted the 2010 Soccer World Cup final, will also play host to the 2023 Rugby World Cup final should South Africa's bid be successful.

South Africa, Ireland and France are the bidding countries and South Africa and France, who have both hosted the Soccer World Cup, have submitted bids that are technically very strong in areas like stadia.

Each country's submitted bid had to address seven areas, as set out by World Rugby.

The seven point World Rugby bid criteria is:

1. Venues and infrastructure commensurate with a top-tier major event

2. Comprehensive and enforceable public and private sector guarantees

3. A commercially successful event with a fully funded, robust financial model

4. Operational excellence through an integrated and experienced delivery team

5. A vision that engages and inspires domestic and international audiences and contributes to the growth of rugby at all levels

6. An enabling environment of political and financial stability that respects the diversity of Rugby World Cup’s global stakeholders

7. An environment and climate suited to top-level sport in a geography that allows maximum fan mobility

All three countries will get an opportunity to address World Rugby's Council in person to explain their bid.

The official voting will happen on November 15.