Saru: SA still in World Cup race
1 Jul 2009
Saru hasn’t given up hope of hosting the 2015 or 2019 World Cups despite the tournament board recommending England and Japan.
The final decision rests with the IRB who will finalise the hosting nations on 28 July. Saru deputy president Mark Alexander said South Africa could still be one of those nations.
‘We are very disappointed not to have won the board’s recommendation but we have not given up. said Alexander, who also doubles as the chairman of the bid committee.
‘We met and frequently exceeded every criteria of the tender document and we will now have to examine the findings of the Report presented by RWCL to the board.
‘Our congratulations go to the recommended bidders – they have been working for their union and their nations as we have – but we will be looking for some clarifications on the recommendations from the IRB.
‘The IRB asked for a minimum guarantee and we were the only nation to offer in excess of that. Our bid received exceptional assistance and support from the Sports Minister, the Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, the Department of Sport and Recreation as well as Cabinet and without their backing we simply would not have bid. The rugby community of South Africa is very grateful to them.
‘Their support would ensure that a Rugby World Cup in South Arica would be a financial success to aid in the growing of the game globally, while the infrastructure and facilities that are being put in place for the Fifa 2010 World Cup would provide rugby with an outstanding stage on which to showcase the game.
‘As well as our traditional rugby facilities, we will have amazing new and iconic stadiums in which players, spectators and media will be able to celebrate the game as rugby probably never has had the opportunity before.’
10 Comments
1 Jul 2009, 10:44 am
Rotation between SH and NH rules out 2015, so focus on 2019.
1 Jul 2009, 10:50 am
Mr Alexander, both you and I know, that if any of these 2 RWC’s came to SA, it would do absolutely FA in growing the game globally!
SARU do just about FA in growing the game locally, never mind globally.
You of all people know the facts, but conveniently forget them when it suits you / SARU.
1 Jul 2009, 11:15 am
#2 Scrumdown:
How would sending 2015 to England be better at growing the game globally?
Its simple
- 2011 is not going to make much money and they want to balance making money and growing the game (can only be England and SA)
- So 2015 will go to a country that can guarantee a huge profit
- 2019 will go to a development country (probably Japan)
For 2015 both England and SA want it. Only one can get it.
1 Jul 2009, 11:25 am
#3 Biscuit: I’m not saying that giving it to England will grow the game globally to any extent more than giving it to SA.
What I am saying is that no matter what Mark Alexander and the SARU circus say, they do too little for growing the game ANYWHERE.
All talk and no action I’m afraid!
1 Jul 2009, 11:37 am
Would be great if we could hold the WC again. So lets all hope we are still in with a chance there. If so think it will be 2019.
1 Jul 2009, 11:53 am
#1 TheTackler: Both England and Japan are in the NH.
It would have been nice for the game for Italy to have cracked the nod instead of England – an opportunity to convert new fans in an established rugby playing country.
Besides, England practically ‘hosted’ the 1999 WC (venues in England used for the WC included Twickenham, Ashton Gate and Welford Road as well as the multi-use sports stadium in Huddersfield, McAlpine Stadium. There was absolutely ZERO excitement or buzz about the WC in England in ’99. Most people didn’t even know there was a RWC taking place.
It’s time for the old boys to take a back seat – England, France, SA, Aus and NZ – and it’s time to give ‘newer’ nations such as Argentina, Italy, Japan, USA, Canada some fun in the sun or else risk the game becoming boring, inbred and stale.
1 Jul 2009, 14:06 pm
#2 Scrumdown: How would England be any better?
1 Jul 2009, 14:07 pm
#6 wooden spoon: Everything you’ve just said. Great!
1 Jul 2009, 16:11 pm
#7 Oxy moron:
Ive been to both RWCs involving Engl – 1991 and 1999 – and as tournaments go, they both sucked !
Besides, on what basis should they get a 3rd chance – that would make it 3 RWCs for England out of the 7 held. Why ?
and yet they whinge incessantly about NZ getting their 1st sole RWC (after co-hosting with Aus in 1987) and this despite NZ getting the whole idea off the ground despite extensive and protracted resistance at the time. From whom you may ask, who was so against the idea of a RWC ?
England.
oh, now that big money is involved, theyre very very interested indeed.
I say give SA another go, they held a magnificent RWC in 95. Give Italy a go, way at the front of the European queue. And if they want to just make money, then look to Japan or USA – why not ?
anyone BUT England ! wait yer turn you snivvelling Imperialistic opportunists.
1 Jul 2009, 18:49 pm
#6 wooden spoon: agree, Italy should’ve got it in 2015.
#9 BlackPanther: stop crying, the reason the IRB have given it to England is because of the lack of profit from awarding it to the backwater that is NZ in 2011
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