France to host 2023 Rugby World Cup after beating South Africa and Ireland
Wednesday 15 November 2017 20:57, UK
France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup after beating off competition from Ireland and South Africa.
The World Rugby council failed to find a majority in the first round of voting at a secret ballot in London, in which Ireland were eliminated after receiving the fewest number of votes (8 out of 39).
But France received a majority backing (24 of 39 votes) in the second round compared to South Africa's 15.
South Africa had been recommended as the preferred choice of the sport's governing body in a 139-page report published two weeks ago, but World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont denied being "humiliated" by the final decision.
Beaumont said: "We've been fortunate to have three great bids. There's going to be two countries extremely disappointed.
"Certainly delighted for France. It will be a really exciting tournament."
France and Ireland had contested the independent evaluation committee's preference for South Africa and both remained confident of winning the race on Wednesday.
But it was France who proved most persuasive as the voting delegates opted against following the advice to choose South Africa, which hosted the tournament in 1995.
The 2023 tournament follows the 2019 edition, which takes place in Japan.
England hosted the most recent tournament, in 2015, when New Zealand won a second successive title after victory on home soil in 2011.
Beaumont had emphasised the "transparent selection process" before announcing the host, when World Rugby's member nations went against the recommendation.
