Thirty years since hosting the iconic 1995 Rugby World Cup, South African rugby fans now stand on the brink of seeing the prestigious tournament return to Mzansi shores.
It was recently reported that the South African Rugby Union (SARU) is now considering the prospect of hosting the 2035 tournament in South Africa as the bidding process is set to open in October this year.
The last time the event was held in South Africa was in 1995 at a time that the country found itself on the dawn of a new democracy, led by the late former President Nelson Mandela. This proved to be one of the main catalysts for turning what was initially known as an apartheid state into the rainbow nation we now know it to be, as the class of the 1995 Springbok team lifted their first ever William Webb Ellis Trophy.
Since then, the Springboks have gone on to extend their tournament success by winning an additional three Rugby World Cups, in 2007, 2019, and 2023 – cementing themselves as one of the powerhouses of the sport.
Despite this, the 1995 tournament remains the only one that the country has ever hosted, after falling just short to France ahead of the 2023 event.
Earlier this year, SARU revealed that it has no intentions of bidding to host because of the financial costs involved in this process. However, according to Planet Rugby, the Afrikaans publication, Rapport, recently revealed that the union might make a U-turn in its decision.
A source told the publication that they are looking to find out what World Rugby’s financial and logistical requirements are for hosting the event before making a decision.
“Depending on what World Rugby sets out, we will then make a call,” a source told Rapport.
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