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Though the next Rugby World Cup in England is merely two years away, the announcement from Ireland’s sports minister Leo Varadkar that Ireland were interested in bidding for the 2023 Rugby World Cup was certainly intriguing news.
It made me curious to check who else were interested in submitting a bid. When I checked I found out there were several.
So here we break down those countries that have expressed or are rumoured to want to host the competition in 2023.
Just to confirm these countries have not formally submitted a notice to the IRB of their intention to make a bid but are merely rumoured or in the case of Ireland stated their interest in hosting it.
Moreover, the currency used to highlight the ticketing for the 2015 World Cup will be done in Sterling.
Ireland
Ireland certainly has used rugby to unify the nation just like South Africa did after the end of apartheid. However, over the years the Irish on the international stage have underachieved massively, particularly during World Cups.
They have only reached the semi-finals once, in 1991, while reaching the quarter finals in 1987, 2003 and 2011.
They crashed out in the group stages at the hands of the Argentineans in 1999 (where Warren Gatland was coach) and in 2007.
Their lack of success at World Cups is baffling especially as their provincial sides such as Munster and Leinster have in the past decade won Heineken Cups on multiple occasions.
Ireland hosting a World Cup will certainly be interesting, as although they have hosted games when England hosted the 1991 World Cup, they have never done it alone.
The rumoured bid certainly encompasses the whole of Ireland (from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland) wherein they intend to use rugby stadia in the form of the Aviva stadium at Landsdowne Road and Munster’s Thomond Park but also have agreed a deal with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
This means they can use several stadiums such as Croke Park, which has a capacity of 82,300.
Moreover, if they were to be chosen to host the 2023 World Cup the Irish know very well just how much it will boost their flailing economy.
Leo Varadkar said it could boost the economy by €800 million ($1182 million AU).
Varadkar certainly seems hopeful they could get the bid. “It’s probably the biggest event a country like Ireland could do, we’re too small for the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup and for that reason it would engender enormous national pride,” he said during a recent IRB conference.
The Irish in my view are my bet to get the competition, as it will bring something slightly new even though they are a traditional rugby nation.
South Africa
The South Africans have also displayed an interest in hosting the 2023 World Cup.
Though it would go back to a traditionalist country it’ll no doubt evoke strong and passionate memories of hosting and winning the 1995 World Cup.
No one can forget the inspirational win against New Zealand at Ellis Park where Nelson Mandela helped unify a nation divided prior to the competition after the end of apartheid.
The South Africans certainly have the stadia for it with an abundance of rugby stadiums as well as those built as a result of hosting the 2010 football World Cup.
I am sure South Africans will flock in their thousands to attend games should they be chosen as well as hoping to invoke their 1995 World Cup winning team.
The South Africans certainly will be fancied should they decide to bid.
France
The French have also expressed an interest in bidding for the competition.
In my view they have an outside bet especially as they have hosted it in 2007.
France was a good World Cup, with many fans flocking to the games and with several shocks. These included France beating the All Blacks’ as well as Argentina’s inspired run to the semis where they gatecrashed the party and made the IRB take notice.
As seen in 2007 they have the stadiums it is unknown whether all of the games will be in France or will a few games be played in Wales.
Argentina
Believe it or not the Argentineans have displayed an interest in bidding for a World Cup and 2023 could be the one that they go for.
Though they might not be fancied for hosting the World Cup it could be a logical choice.
Author Paul Tait, who actually wrote a book on how Argentina could host a World Cup in 2023, certainly feels Argentina is more than capable.
“Argentina is soon to have equal power to the traditional powers on the IRB Council,” he told me when I interviewed him.
“Both Argentina and Italy are to be allocated a second vote each giving them the same power as England and New Zealand. Argentina also has a lot of supporters from other unions and regions in addition to having a clean record, unlike others whom have exchanged votes such as Wales who backed France to host Rugby World Cup 2007 on the promise that it would be allocated matches.
“It is also a popular option with the public. Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans having highly positive things to say about their experiences attending Rugby Championship matches in Argentina.”
“This is the World Cup and unlike in previous decades there now exist real options outside of the beaten track that has seen Australia, England, France, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales all host two or more World Cups.”
In terms of stadia Argentina have several stadiums they could use, which has been one of the reasons why the Pumas have played their Rugby Championship games in Mendoza, Rosario and La Plata.
It is why the UAR have not played any Rugby Championship games in Buenos Aires but also to spread the game of rugby in the country.
Moreover, there’s talk of the UAR moving the games to the provinces north of the country into rugby mad Tucuman – one rumour is Australia could play the Pumas at Salta: 920 miles north from Buenos Aires. Paul Tait certainly feels Argentineans will flock to World Cup games.
“The country has no shortage of stadiums and a record of having well attended matches in a variety of cities. From 2006-2013 Los Pumas played in the north, south, east and west with matches in all of Buenos Aires, Córdoba (surprisingly Argentina’s second largest city), La Plata, Mar del Plata, Mendoza, Puerto Madryn, Resistencia, Rosario, Salta, Santa Fé, San Juan and Tucumán.”
Moreover, Argentina certainly has untapped potential as a rugby nation, with 100,000 registered rugby players.
The striking thing is that half of those players are under the age of 10 meaning there is a new generation coming through.
Already it has showed with Argentina’s youth set up punching above their weight in the last two Junior World Championships.
Whoever the IRB chooses to host the 2023 World Cup will show what direction they wish to go.
Stick with the traditionalist rugby countries such as France, South Africa and Ireland (granted Ireland have never hosted a World Cup tournament before) or go with Argentina and try to expand the game to new areas like they are trying to do with regards to Japan hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
Ticketing
The way the tickets are priced and issued will also be important. As seen in recent days the organisers of the 2015 World Cup in England have come under withering fire from fans (which includes me) for the way they have priced their tickets.
Though children (likely to be those under 16) can attend pool stage games for less than £7 (yet for the crunch pool games are £15 for children) for adult fans the cheapest ticket for England/Wales is £75, New Zealand/Argentina at £60 along with Argentina/Tonga priced at £65 to name but a few.
To make things worse the cheapest ticket for children for the knockout stages is £75 while the cheapest ticket for the final is £150.
These prices are quite hefty and what makes things worse was the organisers highlighted that prices would be “affordable and accessible to everyone”- they are but certainly not for the crunch pool stages.
Sadly its the way of the modern world especially as the organisers need to make a profit from the World Cup that sadly means prices have to be increased especially from the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.
Future World Cup hosts such as Japan in 2019 and those countries I have highlighted wanting to host the 2023 edition will take note at the ticketing prices for the 2015 edition.
A fair ticket structure is what needed but sadly fans will still flock to England for the game – I mean I am still interested in trying to get tickets for the games.
Whatever happens it will be interesting to see who’ll be awarded the 2023 World Cup.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.