CAPE TOWN, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Africa accepted the outcome of a secret vote to allow France to host the prestigious Rugby World Cup 2023, SA Rugby said on Wednesday.
Although "bitterly disappointed" at the decision by the World Rugby Council to overturn a recommendation that South Africa should host the event, South Africa would not challenge the vote, SA Rugby said in a statement emailed to Xinhua.
This came after France beat South Africa and Ireland to host the competition at a World Rugby Council meeting in London on Wednesday.
"We cannot hide our desolation but, for the sake of rugby we wish the 2023 tournament hosts every success," ark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, said.
"We did everything in our power to bring the tournament to South Africa and we expected to have that right confirmed today," he said.
In September, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa led South Africa's Rugby World Cup Bid Team to London to present the country's case to host the 2023 tournament that will take place 200 years after the invention of the game of rugby by William Webb Ellis.
The South African bid has subsequently been named as the "clear leader" and "unanimous" choice of the Rugby World Cup board to host the tournament. This followed an exhaustive tendering, clarification and evaluation process. Contenders France and Ireland were rated second and third respectively.
"We produced a compelling bid document that earned the unanimous recommendation of the Rugby World Cup Ltd board. That recommendation was questioned last week by rivals, but endorsed a second time by World Rugby last week," Alexander said.
However, the view of the experts and World Rugby's leadership was overturned by World Rugby Council members, who may have had other factors to take into account, according to Alexander.
It was the fourth time that South Africa failed in its bid to host the event.
South Africa had expected the tournament, if held in the country, to help stimulate the economy and further boost the tourism and hospitality sectors.
"After a fourth successive disappointment in the Rugby World Cup bidding process it was difficult to know where South Africa would go from here," Alexander said.
"It will be for the next generation of SA Rugby leaders to decide whether to compete for the 2027 tournament or beyond," he said.
He voiced confidence that South Africa will fulfil the dream of hosting the tournament once again someday.
