POSSIBLE TURNAROUND
Sport minister hints at go-ahead to host Rugby World Cup
Sport and Recreation Minister Thulas Nxesi hinted strongly that the government would soon formally support the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2023 bid, after meeting SA Rugby at their offices on Tuesday. SA Rugby has continued with its bid application for rugby’s showpiece event in six years despite no formal government backing, following a directive from former sport minister Fikile Mbalula. In April 2016, Mbalula revoked rugby’s privilege of "hosting and bidding for major and mega international tournaments in SA" as a "consequence of not meeting their own set transformation targets". SA Rugby needs the government to underwrite the associated costs of putting on the global showpiece, not least of which is World Rugby’s fee, about R2bn. An Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on sports transformation, chaired by Willie Basson that recommended the sanction in April 2016 based on its findings over the previous year, has completed a review of the situation over the past 12 months. "The EPG report is the...
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