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France is to host Rugby World Cup 2023. Confirmation came through in a live announcement this morning from World Rugby. The sport’s governing body made the announcement that France 2023 had won the vote, defeating bids from Ireland and South Africa.
The bid was won despite World Rugby having recently recommended that South Africa host the event. Ultimately the preferred option was unable to win the required votes to secure hosting rights. This sees France hosting the tournament 16 years after it did so in 2007.
Reaction
Both Ireland and South Africa were credited by FFR President Bernard Laporte. World Rugby authorities were also quick to point out that both had made extremely impressive bids.
Did economic-power factor in? Did insecurity over what Japan 2019 will achieve advantage France? The Parisian Olympics? Crime rate? Political reputation? Domestic transport and hotels? Population? Arguments can be made in favor of all of these points.
France 2023 is going to be bigger than 2007. This in undeniable. French rugby has grown tremendously since 2007. Ignore the test team and consider who plays in the Top 14 now and who did so in 2007. City sides including Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Lyon, Racing 92 and Toulon have replaced small-town teams including Albi, Auch, Biarritz, Dax and Montauban.
Top 14 Semi Finals are played in large stadiums, the same one which will host in 2023. They also happen to be new or recently upgraded from hosting the 2016 Euro Soccer event.
Rugby World Cup 2007 saw 2.25 million tickets sold. The 2011 tournament in New Zealand saw this fall to 1.6 million. In 2015 it increased to 2.42 million while there are to be 1.8 million tickets for Japan 2019. The France 2023 bid listed 2.6 million as the number for the event. It is, thereby, to surpass all previous Rugby World Cups.
The coming days, weeks and months will see the dust settling. This will enable planning for France 2023 and also for others. Agustín Pichot and the UAR will be among them. This is welcome news for the Argentina 2027 dream. South Africa 2023 would have been a set-back for the possibility as would have Ireland, albeit less so.
How the voting went down
The voting was done over two rounds. In the first of these France won 18 votes. Ireland was the least popular with 8 votes and South Africa received 13. No official announcement has been made as to who voted for who. It is only speculation at this stage.
For round two the voters had to chose between France and South Africa. France gained even more popularity, finishing with 24 votes. South Africa 2023 received 15 votes.
Hosting 2023
As in previous Rugby World Cups final venues can change from bids. England 2023 did not see Manchester’s Old Trafford, Liverpool’s Anfield or the Emirates Stadium in London hosting matches. The France 2023 bid offered 12 venues across 11 French cities.
Paris was included for the opening match, Semi Finals and Final. These would be at the Stade de France. Major pool fixtures were also in the plans. This is identical to that of 2007.
Marseilles was the major supporting venue in 2007 with two Quarter Finals. One of the remaining ones was outside of France in Cardiff, Wales. This will not be repeated. Instead a variety of options are to be investigated with Lyon potentially to join Marseilles in hosting Quarter Finals matches.
In the north Lille and Lens featured in the bid. Lille seats 50,095, making it a contender for major pool matches as a minimum. Seating 42,000 and 41,965 respectively Bordeaux and St. Etienne will aid in hosting major pool matches and keeping the traveling supporters in different parts of France.
The Parce des Princes in Paris hosted the 2007 Bronze Final and is again in the bid. Nantes, Montpellier and Toulouse also all return. Nice joins Lille in being new additions. Seating 35,000 it offers another option close to Italy.
