LAST MONTH, France, Ireland and South Africa made their final pitches to host Rugby World Cup 2023. On 15 November, a winning bid will be selected by the World Rugby Council, but next week an independent body will put forth a recommendation. As one bid team told Rugby World: “I would like to see the council vote against an independent company they have paid a bucket-load of money, that sets the criteria.” So with this all-important moment coming next week, we set out and spoke to all three bid teams, to see what they feel sets their one apart and what it would mean to their nation to host the World Cup in 2023. France Sitting in La Résidence de France in the heart of London, the leader of France’s bid, Claude Atcher, is holding court. In a bold move, he details how France’s ability to make money for World Rugby is a vital tool against the stagnation of the game, stating: “If we don’t do anything, in five to ten years you will have two, three to four teams on the same level and that’s all, and rugby will die.” France make no bones about the fact that World Rugby need dosh to spread and improve the sport, so their bid is built on the promise of a big windfall. World Rugby demand that all potential hosts can cover a £120m minimum fee for hosting rights, which must be underwritten by the government, as well as the costs of putting on a World Cup. France and their government have bid more than the £120m, to the tune of £30m, and they have guaranteed approximately £210m for their operating costs (insured by Societe Generale). Like all three bid teams, if selected to host, France would have to pay 5% of their bid fee per year until 2023, starting from 1 March 2018. Back on the financial might of French rugby, Atcher says to the room: “With Japan 2019, we don’t know exactly the most recent figures, but the thinking is that the financial revenue will be less than 2015, Around 60%, 70%, 75%, but probably less than 2015. The result is that between 2019-2023, World Rugby will not be able to invest the same amount of money than between 2011-2015. This is the situation. If France hosts in 2023, I don’t know if World Rugby will get the same criteria to invest, but if they do get the same process to invest money after 2023, they would be able to invest £350m (estimated profits) in terms of financial revenue, which we could guarantee for having RWC 2023 in France. “We are thinking that a French World Cup would mean more revenue than other countries but I don’t have figures for Ireland and South Africa. It’s my opinion.” Which is a roundabout way of saying that they will have significant readies to make up for any lack of projected earnings in Japan in 2019. History is with the French. As Atcher said: … Continue reading The race to 2023: Who will be selected to host the Rugby World Cup?