Share

Alexander hopeful on 2023 Rugby World Cup bid

Johannesburg - New SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said on Thursday he was confident racial transformation targets will be met this year, enabling a stalled 2023 World Cup bid to be reignited.

The bid has drifted into limbo because government support - essential for it to be successful - has been denied this year due to the slow integration of blacks into a white-dominated sport.

"We have made good racial transformation progress this year although we know more work needs to be done," stressed Alexander.

"I am confident of a favourable report from the government, enabling us to continue our bid for an event that could have a tremendous impact on all South Africans."

South Africa, Ireland and France want to succeed 2019 hosts Japan in staging the quadrennial 20-nation tournament won by New Zealand in England last year.

Although 90 percent of South Africans are black, most of the national rugby team players have been white in the post-apartheid era.

Sports minister Fikile Mbalula has struck an agreement with SAR that half the 2019 South Africa World Cup team in Japan must be black.

Allister Coetzee, who succeeded Heyneke Meyer as Springboks coach last April, has chosen five black starters in all but one of nine Tests this year.

Injuries and loss of form reduced the figure to four for the 57-15 thrashing from New Zealand in Durban during October, one of five defeats this season.

Ten of 33 Springboks chosen for November Tests in England, Italy and Wales are black, including veteran winger Bryan Habana.

Alexander stressed that racial transformation was not a "tick-box" exercise, but a business imperative for rugby to remain a relevant sport in an evolving nation.

"Transformation is linked to our long-term survival, prosperity and sustainable competitiveness."

Former deputy president Alexander was elected unopposed in Johannesburg to succeed Oregan Hoskins, who quit in August without publicly giving reasons.

The new boss spelt out the economic benefits to South Africa of staging the World Cup for the second time after winning the competition as 1995 hosts.

"We forecast that it would create 38 600 temporary or permanent jobs and have a direct and indirect economic impact of R27.3 billion ($1.97 billion, €1.8 billion).

"A World Cup would contribute 5.7 billion rand to low-income households, bring almost 200,000 tourists to South Africa and produce R1.4 billion in estimated tax revenues."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE