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SA need R1.6bn to host RWC
04/05/2008 18:34 - (SA)
Johannesburg - It will cost South Africa at least R1.6bn to host the 2015 World Cup if their bid is successful.
SA Rugby will meet on May 14 to decide if they will put in a bid to host the tournament, which will be awarded by the International Rugby Board next year.
The amount is, according to a report in the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag, the guarantee that SA Rugby need to provide the IRB if they are successful with their bid.
"The mechanisms were worked out at the meeting in Dublin last week," SA Rugby's managing director Jonathan Stones told Sondag.
"The IRB is looking at awarding the 2015 and 2019 tournaments at the same time with the idea being that one of them go to a developing nation.
"We will discuss the process at the next presidents' council meeting, where after we will decide if we are to launch a bid for the tournament.
"In my personal capacity, my opinion is that we should, especially as it will be the 20th anniversary in 2015 of our victory in the 1995 World Cup."
Stones told Sondag that the CEOs of Sanzar also met in Dublin and decided to pursue talks with other nations.
Sanzar could be expanded
"We will meet with Canada, Argentina and the US in New Zealand in June and in July in Samoa, we will meet the Pacific Island nations and Japan with a view to expanding the Sanzar competitions in the future.
"We had long talks and decided that it is necessary to bring out a fresh product that will be a power in world rugby when the Sanzar contract is re-negotiated," Stones said.
"What we are looking at is establishing a rugby economy outside Europe which would be a counterweight to the power of the European club system."
Stones was referring to the recent exodus of top stars chasing big money at European clubs but he added that Sanzar was not closing doors, even though the current talks may not suit South Africa's travel arrangements.
"We are not closing doors in any way. Australia recently mooted a 26-week Super 14 programme, but ourselves and New Zealand told them it was not an option as we both have domestic competitions that we need to look after."
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Rugby
