How rugby is on a losing streak without an economic model of sustainability
Enough time has passed since the deep disappointment of not getting the Rugby World Cup in 2023. In the midst of accusations of unfair play or us dropping the ball, the question remains: are the administrators of the sport facing up to the reality that we are on an unsustainable path? The talk is that the vote went where the money is; the French bid would result in more income generated than if it was hosted by SA. So even though the technical committee and independent report said SA was the best bet, when it came down to the vote, the power of the euro won the day. It certainly raises questions about how these decisions are made and where the extra money made goes. Despite the efforts of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and a well-polished presentation, the highly complex economics of sport was always going to have the final say. Understanding this alone would have predicted the outcome. Based on the current approach in world rugby, a country such as SA is not going to get a look i...
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