Dublin — Rugby will be tarnished forever should SA fail to secure hosting rights for the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) due to last-minute horse trading. That was the considered opinion of SA Rugby president Mark Alexander in Dublin on Sunday in an increasingly acrid atmosphere as World Rugby prepares itself to unveil the hosts for the 2023 showpiece in London on Wednesday. SA is in pole position after being declared World Rugby’s preferred host country following an exhaustive independent assessment process by a panel that is rumoured to have cost about £500,000. In the assessment SA topped sections for tournament organisation and schedule‚ venues and host cities‚ as well as tournament infrastructure. The other contenders have not taken kindly to the recommendation. First France cried foul‚ while the colourful prose emanating from the Emerald Island paints it as a country green with envy. The Irish Independent on Sunday launched a withering attack on Alexander‚ in particular for his rol...
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