South Africa an outcast, UK to host 2015 RWC

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By Greg Smith, 2 Jul 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: England rugby, International Rugby, Rugby Union, RWC, South Africa rugby, world cup rugby

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Rugby union is a peculiar business. I don’t know if football, cricket and others have the same problems, but as a person with an aversion for ‘the establishment’ in general, I’m sick of the ‘old school ties’ set up of the IRB.

Who wants to sound like a constant moaner? But if you’re a Springbok supporter, that’s what the IRB seems intent to force you to. Constant gripes.

The list of snubs and ‘injustices’ is long, and I don’t want to go into all that now, but what I can use as another example of an IRB ‘kick-in-the-proverbials’ for South Africa is the hosting of the Rugby World Cup.

South Africa will not host the RWC until 2023. No matter how you look at it. That hurts!

The interval between hostings of a RWC in Africa stretches to a record 28 years: 1995 – 2023. Thank goodness the IRB is a intent on developing the sport internationally!

The European block (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France) host or co-host the RWC every alternate event.

The IRB has announced that England has pretty much bagged the 2015 RWC, although it was due to South Africa if you think about it reasonably.

The UK has hosted 53 RWC games between 1991 and 2007, while South Africa has only hosted the 1995 event (30 games). By 2023, England will have hosted double (60+) the number of RWC games South Africa has.

South Africa is a rugby union outcast. Rugby belongs to the old school, old world ‘Eurozone’. Probably forever.

South Africa should follow Australia’s Aussie Rules example. Is it time for Africa Rules?

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The Crowd Says (24) | Page 1 of Comments

Viscount Crouchback said | July 2nd 2009 @ 2:46am | Report comment

Poppycock.

The IRB is a splendid organisation. You ought to count your blessings that the old school chaps are still in charge of rugger because, if they weren’t, you would witness ghastly corruption on a FIFA scale.

I applaud the England 2015 decision, but I hope that the IRB doesn’t become too obsessed with financial returns. It would be completely intolerable if the smaller parts of the rugger Empire – e.g. New Zealand – were to be denied hosting rights merely because of their small markets.

Love for the game should count for more than the size of one’s economy.

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MVDave said | July 2nd 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment

IRB has nothing on FIFA with its 200 plus members. England, the spiritual home of football, has held one World Cup in 80 years and will be 90 years by 2018, the next time its up for grabs. Australia has never held it, neither has Holland, Portugal, China, and until next year any African country. Makes SA ‘plight’ of one Rugby WC in 28 years seem not unreasonable…although you are right Britain seems to hols it evry other tournament
At least you will have the World Cup next year to enjoy, the biggest show on the planet.

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pothale said | July 2nd 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment

Ireland hasn’t hosted it yet either. We feel very put upon compared to Britain and South Africa. We got thrown a bone of a match or two – and that’s it.

‘Snot fair.

Sniffle !!

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CronullaKiwi said | July 2nd 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment

I am personally dissapointed. Soley from a supporters point of view I would like to have seen it go to SA. RWC ’95 was the best world cup and another one there would have been awesome.

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Bay35Pablo said | July 2nd 2009 @ 12:57pm | Report comment

Well, SAF was never going to host 1997 or 1991, so compare apples and apples.

Having said that, I am in complete agreement. This “one for you, one for me, one for you, two for me” approach is bollocks. Although only a limited number of countries play the game, this cosy cartel of guaranteeing every 2nd one for the 5 Nations and divvying the games up is a joke. it is everything that is wrong with the IRB and the administration.

Japan should and will get 2019. After that perhaps Argentina, and SAF, before we go back to the Frozen Isles.

I don’t want to think about when Australia will get it again. We’ve had it twice in 16 years, so on that basis I’ll probably get to see it with any grandkids the kids I don’t have yet give me!!!

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pothale said | July 2nd 2009 @ 1:12pm | Report comment

Well, Pablo, that’s twice more than Ireland have had it. Since 2015 and ’19 are gone, and they’ll have to give it to SANZAR again in ’23 and some other non-Top 10 in ’26, I might get a chance to see it being hosted for the first time by Ireland from my nursing home bed in 2029. 20 years should give us enough time to build the stadia.

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Bay35Pablo said | July 2nd 2009 @ 1:49pm | Report comment

Pothale, Irish rugby has come on leaps and bounds since professionalism came in. This with the strength (until recently) of the Irish economy mean that IMHO the next Home nations RWC should be in Ireland.

Besides which, I need an excuse to visit again ….

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Liam Ryan said | July 2nd 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment

You make no mention whatsoever of the fact that RWCL has make the fantastic decision to recommend that Japan is to host in 2019.
This omission does, in fact, make you sound like the “constant moaner” you cite, only interested in the possibility of your own country hosting.

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Virgil said | July 2nd 2009 @ 3:12pm | Report comment

When is Scotland going to get a bloody go??

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Greg Smith said | July 2nd 2009 @ 3:48pm | Report comment

I’m happy for Japan … don’t get me wrong but look:

1. 4 superpowers within international rugby , Oz, Nz, SA, UK

2. All the above, excluding SA, have hosted or co-hosted the RWC twice already (NZ has 2011, their 2nd)

South Africa is the TOTAL outcast if you consider it’s status and size in the sport.

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