Companies hoping to score from the Rugby World Cup returning to South Africa — 28 years after Nelson Mandela handed the trophy to Francois Pienaar – have an anxious wait to see if racial transformation targets will scupper the bid before it even goes to a vote.
South Africa‚ France‚ Ireland and Italy have been confirmed as the four nations who will bid for the right to stage the 2023 World Cup.
A decision on which country will stage the tournament will be made in May 2017‚ but the tender deadline is June 2016.
As one of the game’s leading nations‚ and with good infrastructure‚ South Africa comfortably meets World Rugby’s requirements. But the bid will need government backing.
Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula on Monday punished SA Rugby for not doing enough to grow black players — He has repeatedly said he wants 50% representation in the Springboks. It also couldn’t have helped that just three of South Africa’s six Super Rugby teams managed to meet SA Rugby’s transformation target of 35% – the Kings‚ Stormers and Bulls. Rapport newspaper reported earlier this month that the teams which did not meet the target were the Sharks (27%)‚ the Cheetahs (24%) and the Lions (17%).
Mbalula on Monday ordered that SA Rugby‚ along with Athletics South Africa‚ Netball SA and Cricket South Africa‚ may not bid or host international events for a year as a consequence of failing to meet transformation targets.
He said he would review the decision when considering the results on the 2016-17 Transformation Barometer.
Jurie Roux‚ CEO of SA Rugby‚ acknowledged the findings of the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) report on Transformation for 2014/15 and the sanction imposed by Mbalula‚ saying: “We understand and support the Minister’s urgency in addressing the issue of transformation”.
He said that SA Rugby planned to engage the Minister on the organisation’s hopes of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup‚ “to fully understand the implications”.
The bidding process is due to start next month‚ with initial tender documentation‚ but Saru said it would not be concluded until next year‚ by which time SA Rugby hopes to have had the right to host reinstated.
“There is no question that we have more work to do and we could be moving faster‚ but our sport has undergone a major overhaul in how we do business and how we measure ourselves in the past two or three years and we have definitely made great progress‚” Roux said.
“Our barometer for 2015 shows that we have achieved our target in 11 out of 13 dimensions as agreed with government.
“We have made further progress on and off the field in 2016 to date and over the coming months our commitment to transformation will become even more evident.
“We are confident that the suspension will be lifted at the next reporting of the EPG.”
When announcing the bidders for the 2023 event‚ World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset told the rugby unions that their bids would need to be endorsed by their governments.
“With a six-week global shop window‚ upwards of 500‚000 international visitors‚ multiple sporting‚ social and tourism benefits‚ economic benefits of up to £2 billion (R36 billion) and minimal infrastructure overlay‚ it is also an attractive event for potential hosts‚” he said.
“…The host selection process gives unions a clear timetable to consult with relevant stakeholders‚ including national and regional government‚ deliver feasibility studies and hone their bids to host an event that truly delivers the platform to promote and grow rugby around the world.”
Will Mbalula prevent SA bidding for 2023 Rugby World Cup?
South Africa‚ France‚ Ireland and Italy have been confirmed as the four nations who will bid for the right to stage the 2023 World Cup.
A decision on which country will stage the tournament will be made in May 2017‚ but the tender deadline is June 2016.
As one of the game’s leading nations‚ and with good infrastructure‚ South Africa comfortably meets World Rugby’s requirements. But the bid will need government backing.
Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula on Monday punished SA Rugby for not doing enough to grow black players — He has repeatedly said he wants 50% representation in the Springboks. It also couldn’t have helped that just three of South Africa’s six Super Rugby teams managed to meet SA Rugby’s transformation target of 35% – the Kings‚ Stormers and Bulls. Rapport newspaper reported earlier this month that the teams which did not meet the target were the Sharks (27%)‚ the Cheetahs (24%) and the Lions (17%).
Mbalula on Monday ordered that SA Rugby‚ along with Athletics South Africa‚ Netball SA and Cricket South Africa‚ may not bid or host international events for a year as a consequence of failing to meet transformation targets.
He said he would review the decision when considering the results on the 2016-17 Transformation Barometer.
Jurie Roux‚ CEO of SA Rugby‚ acknowledged the findings of the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) report on Transformation for 2014/15 and the sanction imposed by Mbalula‚ saying: “We understand and support the Minister’s urgency in addressing the issue of transformation”.
He said that SA Rugby planned to engage the Minister on the organisation’s hopes of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup‚ “to fully understand the implications”.
The bidding process is due to start next month‚ with initial tender documentation‚ but Saru said it would not be concluded until next year‚ by which time SA Rugby hopes to have had the right to host reinstated.
“There is no question that we have more work to do and we could be moving faster‚ but our sport has undergone a major overhaul in how we do business and how we measure ourselves in the past two or three years and we have definitely made great progress‚” Roux said.
“Our barometer for 2015 shows that we have achieved our target in 11 out of 13 dimensions as agreed with government.
“We have made further progress on and off the field in 2016 to date and over the coming months our commitment to transformation will become even more evident.
“We are confident that the suspension will be lifted at the next reporting of the EPG.”
When announcing the bidders for the 2023 event‚ World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset told the rugby unions that their bids would need to be endorsed by their governments.
“With a six-week global shop window‚ upwards of 500‚000 international visitors‚ multiple sporting‚ social and tourism benefits‚ economic benefits of up to £2 billion (R36 billion) and minimal infrastructure overlay‚ it is also an attractive event for potential hosts‚” he said.
“…The host selection process gives unions a clear timetable to consult with relevant stakeholders‚ including national and regional government‚ deliver feasibility studies and hone their bids to host an event that truly delivers the platform to promote and grow rugby around the world.”
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