The "bidding battle" to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup is set to be between four countries -- Ireland, France, Italy and South Africa, according to the PA. World Rugby confirmed that formal expressions of interest were "received from the four respective unions by last month's deadline." The U.S., which had "expressed interest in lodging a bid, decided not to proceed." The 2023 World Cup hosts will be decided in May '17, with a confirmation of tender deadline in June next year (PA, 7/3). In London, Alex Lowe reported Ireland has staged World Cup matches in the past -- in '91 and '99 -- but it and Italy are "hoping to host the tournament for the first time." South Africa "delivered an iconic World Cup" in '95, while France was the host in '07. The bidding process alone is expected to cost the Irish Rugby Football Union around £1.1M ($1.7M) but it has the support of the Irish Government, which would "underwrite any tournament fee, and the Northern Ireland executive." Crucially, the IRFU also has the support of the Gaelic Athletic Association, which would "provide the majority of the venues, including Croke Park, with the 82,000-capacity stadium in Dublin in line to host" the semifinals and the final. This year's tournament in England is "set to break all financial records," with the commercial revenues expected to be in excess of £270M ($419.3M). Ireland will host the women's World Cup in '17, with the "pool stages to be held in Dublin before the tournament moves to Belfast" for the semifinals and final (LONDON TIMES, 7/3). EYE WITNESS NEWS reported South African Rugby Union CEO Jurie Roux said that the country was "ready to prepare a compelling bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup." Roux said that the idea was "buttressed by the gathering of the 1995 World Cup Springbok winning team." Roux said, "Last week the 1995 Springbok Rugby World Cup squad re-gathered to celebrate their momentous victory 20 years ago." He said that there has been a "renewed hunger to bring the event back to South Africa." Roux: "That hunger has been sharpened over the years with a whole generation having grown up envying the experience of their parents" (EYE WITNESS NEWS, 7/3).
