World Rugby release statement following Laporte's explosive criticism

World Rugby have released a statement in response to comments by Bernard Laporte on behalf of the Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) which suggested the RWC2023 bid process was flawed.

Laporte said the recommendation process was riddled with errors and the result of incompetence on the behalf of those who issued it.

World Rugby released the following statement this afternoon: “World Rugby is concerned by the reported comments by host candidates regarding the Rugby World Cup 2023 host selection process and recommendation, and in particular those attributed to the Fédération Française de Rugby.

“While disappointment and high-emotion following the announcement of a recommendation is understandable, such comments are both unfounded and inaccurate.

“World Rugby has implemented a transparent, objective, professional and robust host selection process. The comprehensive technical evaluation has been undertaken by a team of World Rugby and third-party experts, independently scrutinised by The Sports Consultancy against agreed scoring criteria. The process was supported by the host candidates, the Rugby World Cup Board and Council throughout.

“We will be raising our concerns on this matter with the FFR and look forward to the World Rugby Council appointing the Rugby World Cup 2023 host on 15 November with a clear, comprehensive and objective recommendation to consider.”

Yesterday Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar took a swipe at South Africa’s 2023 Rugby World Cup bid.

“What we want is a tournament where people see matches in full stadiums in the middle of rugby communities in our cities rather than in big soccer stadiums on the outskirts of our cities that would be half-empty. That’s part of the case we’ll be making to the rugby unions,” Varadkar said.

He also pointed out that Ireland’s stadia are in a better position than New Zealand’s were when they hosted the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

“But if you look at what we have already it’s a much better stadium infrastructure than New Zealand had when they hosted the Rugby World Cup back in 2011. It was always part of our bid to upgrade our stadiums over the next five years. There’s money there to do exactly that,” he said.

The World Rugby Council will now meet on 15 November in London to consider the recommendation and vote on the next host.