RugbyRebels

& then there were 3. In what had initially appeared to have been one of the most hotly contested RWC host bidding contests, fully seven years before the event is scheduled to take place it has come down to just three candidates - and quite possibly only two. The big question remains as to whether the SARFU will be able to proceed with its bid at all, as it is one of a number of white-dominated sports organizations currently banned from hosting international tournaments by the South African government due to lack of integration. Moreover, that situation is not up for review until after the bidding process moves to the next stage, and it is doubtful World Rugby would allow the SARFU to proceed without the full backing of its government. Therein lies the rub. Word on the street is that the SARFU has already received a gentleman's agreement from the government and that the ban will be lifted in time. Were that not the case, the SARFU would surely have withdrawn from the race and saved itself the waste of expenditure. Just how much the entire affair may have harmed the South African bid remains to be seen. They were widely regarded as favorites at the outset of the process, having failed to gain any of the three previous tournaments, somewhat controversially. They are up against Ireland and France, of course, and the credentials and shortcomings of these three potential host nations have already been discussed ad infinitum on the 'SA, France, Italy & Ireland bid to host World Cup X' thread on this same forum. Feel free to add your thoughts on that particular aspect over there, but let's not go into it over here as well. Personally I think that, provided South Africa are permitted to proceed, it's 50/50 between them an Ireland. The IRFU claim to have secured 40% of the required votes already, though others believe the presence of two European candidates may split the NH vote and work in SA's favor. Still others think the withdrawal of Italy may improve France's chances. It is difficult to predict where the NZRFU will go, and this could be critical.

Anyway, register your preference in the poll:

Ireland on the proviso that there's no farming out games to the rest of the isles.

Ireland, because if rowan's suggestion is anything to go by, it'll be a lifetime before they even get a whiff of hosting a world cup.

I find it mostly interesting that Rowan acknowledges that a SA bid will be nowhere without government backing, but that it should, and procedures should be changed in their favour.
However, when the Italy bid fails due to lack of government support, it's an indication that Italy are incapable of hosting on their own.
Equally, while share bids are universally loathed, Italy really ought to share a bid with France (presumably to stop France bidding again too soon).

It's almost like there's an anti-European bias going on somewhere.


Of the 3 left, Ireland by a country mile.

I wanted Italy or maybe Argentina, but of what's left then Ireland, comfortably Ireland.

Which Tyler wrote:I find it mostly interesting that Rowan acknowledges that a SA bid will be nowhere without government backing, but that it should, and procedures should be changed in their favour.
However, when the Italy bid fails due to lack of government support, it's an indication that Italy are incapable of hosting on their own.
Equally, while share bids are universally loathed, Italy really ought to share a bid with France (presumably to stop France bidding again too soon).

It's almost like there's an anti-European bias going on somewhere.


Of the 3 left, Ireland by a country mile.

So this thread, also, turns into "let's attack Rowan, snicker snicker, he doesn't share our right-wing political views."

procedures should be changed in their favour. What procedures?

it's an indication that Italy are incapable of hosting on their own. No, I quite clearly stated that I hoped Italy would bid again, preferably as an independent candidate.

Italy really ought to share a bid with France (presumably to stop France bidding again too soon). Interesting presumption, but as is the case with the rest of your presumptions, that isn't my view at all. It simply struck me that a northern Italy/southern France shared World Cup would be a logical and fascinating concept. All pie in the sky, but I was just having a bit of fun expounding upon it. No need for the snicker-snicker approach on that one either.

Mmmmm snickers...

zer0 wrote:Ireland on the proviso that there's no farming out games to the rest of the isles.

This.

If it's good enough for the English to farm games out its good enough for the Irish.

OptimisticJock wrote:If it's good enough for the English to farm games out its good enough for the Irish.

Number 1 reason I'm against the Irish bid. We've heard all the one-nation talk before. There's a good chance we will see Cardiff hosting games for the 5th time in 10 tournaments.

jared_7 wrote:

zer0 wrote:Ireland on the proviso that there's no farming out games to the rest of the isles.

This.

We're not planning to share. I think they'd struggle to persuade the Irish government that it's a good idea. The main problem is that the Welsh will offer their votes to whoever gives them most games.

Who are the feckers supporting the opposition? Is that you Adder? Why I oughta...

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:Who are the feckers supporting the opposition? Is that you Adder? Why I oughta...

Hahaha. No I did not vote. I'm not against Ireland Hosting, I was just highlighting there were some logistic issues in the background (on which we disagree). I don't really want France to host. South Africa could be a nice holiday...

rowan wrote:

OptimisticJock wrote:If it's good enough for the English to farm games out its good enough for the Irish.

Number 1 reason I'm against the Irish bid. We've heard all the one-nation talk before. There's a good chance we will see Cardiff hosting games for the 5th time in 10 tournaments.

I don't really care if there are matches in Cardiff. I'm glad they're doing it as a solo bid but would have no issues seeing as the English have held it with games in West England just recently.

I'd rather see it rotating around different countries, like the FIFA World Cup. So if it's a choice between SA for the 2nd time and Ireland for the 3rd or France for the 4th - and a strong possibility that either of the latter could involve Wales for the 5th time - I'm definitely for the African bid. But that's far from the only reason, of course.

rowan wrote:I'd rather see it rotating around different countries, like the FIFA World Cup. So if it's a choice between SA for the 2nd time and Ireland for the 3rd or France for the 4th - and a strong possibility that either of the latter could involve Wales for the 5th time - I'm definitely for the African bid. But that's far from the only reason, of course.

There are reasons to support a South African bid but that's just nonsense. How many RWC games has RSA hosted? How many Ireland?

Come to think of it, a World cup in a newly United Ireland could be awesome.

Adder wrote:Come to think of it, a World cup in a newly United Ireland could be awesome.

I must have missed the news this morning.

OptimisticJock wrote:

Adder wrote:Come to think of it, a World cup in a newly United Ireland could be awesome.

I must have missed the news this morning.

HAHAHA.
But seriously, not impossible.
Wait and see.

Adder wrote:

OptimisticJock wrote:

Adder wrote:Come to think of it, a World cup in a newly United Ireland could be awesome.

I must have missed the news this morning.

HAHAHA.
But seriously, not impossible.
Wait and see.

Much to my surprise the polls haven't moved at all since the Brexit vote - although applications for irish passports have increased as people try to get the best of both worlds.

Anyway, rugby in Ireland is older than partition. Border means nowt to us.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:

Adder wrote:

OptimisticJock wrote: I must have missed the news this morning.

HAHAHA.
But seriously, not impossible.
Wait and see.

Much to my surprise the polls haven't moved at all since the Brexit vote - although applications for irish passports have increased as people try to get the best of both worlds.

Anyway, rugby in Ireland is older than partition. Border means nowt to us.

I won't pretend this was a not a provocative message.

I do however think polls might change when the process is launched and Brexit starts becoming a reality. The extent and direction of change...

Adder wrote:

OptimisticJock wrote:

Adder wrote:Come to think of it, a World cup in a newly United Ireland could be awesome.

I must have missed the news this morning.

HAHAHA.
But seriously, not impossible.
Wait and see.

No it isn't. Highly doubtful that the Republic have any interest taking the north on board though.

OptimisticJock wrote:

Adder wrote:

OptimisticJock wrote: I must have missed the news this morning.

HAHAHA.
But seriously, not impossible.
Wait and see.

No it isn't. Highly doubtful that the Republic have any interest taking the north on board though.

I can't really see them refuse though... It would be a political nightmare for whoever is leading, if they did...

Adder wrote:

OptimisticJock wrote:

Adder wrote:
HAHAHA.
But seriously, not impossible.
Wait and see.

No it isn't. Highly doubtful that the Republic have any interest taking the north on board though.

I can't really see them refuse though... It would be a political nightmare for whoever is leading, if they did...

I think you're over estimating the support for it in the Republic.

OptimisticJock wrote:

Adder wrote:

OptimisticJock wrote: No it isn't. Highly doubtful that the Republic have any interest taking the north on board though.

I can't really see them refuse though... It would be a political nightmare for whoever is leading, if they did...

I think you're over estimating the support for it in the Republic.

Maybe. I'm not Irish after all.
My point is that I can understand them not wanting it( as in, not requesting it), but can't see them refusing it.

Edit: I will now stop writing about this topic on this thread.