The Springbok’s chances of hosting a second World Cup have all but vanished, according to an anonymous rugby executive. “I don’t think South Africa can compete financially to host the World Cup anymore,” Rapport revealed.

In sports, money often overrules, made prevalent by Saudi Arabia’s recent domination, from golf to soccer and now, rugby. The oil-backed nation is eyeing a bid for the 2035 World Cup, competiting against Spain, or the 2039 rugby World Cup.

Both countries boast financial reserves, essential to World Rugby in the host nation selection process, suggesting South Africa to be at the bottom of the list.

Thirty years have flown since the Springboks’ historic 1995 World Cup, their first of four Web Ellis Cups. It could also be their last as World Rugby prioritises money over tradition.

“The World Cup is the only real revenue stream for World Rugby, so they will always go where the big money can be made. We took some big strategic decisions a few years ago to go men’s and women’s in Australia and the same in the US,” World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin relayed to Sports Mail.

“And we’ve now go to think about the balance and whether we bring 2035 [men’s] and 2037 [women’s] back to Europe. It’s almost like a regional rotation.

“We’ve never had that discussion strategically in World Rugby before but that’s probably the way the discussion has got to go.”

Spain for 2035

Spain have emerged as frontrunners to host the 2035 rugby World Cup. “The Spanish federation and Spanish government have had conversations with La Liga,” Gildpin revealed.

“When we’ve had tournaments before in England, there’s been that conversation about needing Tottenham to play two matches away in a row. It’s the same conversation with Spain.

“As we understand it it’s with La Liga about would they support, and it seems to be the case.”

Is this the end of hosting for the Springboks?

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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/world-rugby-delivers-crushing-blow-to-springboks/