SA, France, Italy & Ireland bid to host World Cup X

[rowan]

30 years ago the inaugual World Cup was about to reach its climax. Doesn't seem so very long ago. But 30 years from now seems like an almost incomprehensible distance into the future. It ought to be the year of the 16th RWC, if it continues along its current quadrenniel cycle. Who knows where it'll be...?

[rowan]

Eastern Europe might be a good bet.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Another week, another load of empty seats in the "rugby-mad" nation for a Test against one of rugby's big beasts. If they won't watch the Bokke will they watch Georgia?

[rowan]

Only about 30K at the match. What were the TV viewing figures, I wonder?

[rowan]

Anyway, success tends to generate increased public interest, of course, so hopefully this apparent renaissance will continue and the fans will come out to support their team again . . .

[SerjeantWildgoose]

... Ireland, on the other hand, is going to have to revolve the whole thing around Dublin - unless of course they ship a few games to France & Britain...

Semple Stadium, Thurles = 53k
Gaelic Grounds, Limerick = 49.5k
Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork = 45k
Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney = 43.2k
Thomond Park, Limerick = 25.6k
Cussak Park, Ennis = 20.5k
Walsh Park, Waterford = 17k
Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork = 16.5k
Austin Stack Park, Tralee = 15k
Fraher Field, Dungarvan = 12k
Irish Independent Park, Cork = 9k

Sure we could host the fecking thing in Munster!

We've even got Jackman Park in Limerick with a capacity of 2.5k to play home to the Bokke.

[rowan]

How many of those are rugby purpose, upgraded, available and good to go?

Most of these are good to go, to my knowledge . . .

# Stadium Capacity City Province Home team
1 Soccer City 94,736 Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa national football team, Kaizer Chiefs
2 Ellis Park Stadium 62,567 Johannesburg Gauteng Lions, Golden Lions
3 Odi Stadium 60,000 Mabopane Gauteng Garankuwa United

5 Mmabatho Stadium 59,000 Mahikeng North West training ground for North-West University
6 Cape Town Stadium 55,000 Cape Town Western Cape Ajax Cape Town, Cape Town City F.C.
7 Moses Mabhida Stadium 54,000 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Amazulu
8 Kings Park Stadium 52,000 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Sharks, Sharks (Currie Cup)
9 Loftus Versfeld Stadium 51,762 Pretoria Gauteng Bulls, Blue Bulls
10 Newlands Stadium 51,100 Cape Town Western Cape South Africa national rugby union team, Stormers, Western Province
11 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium 48,459 Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape Southern Kings, Eastern Province Kings
12 Royal Bafokeng Stadium 42,000 Rustenburg North West Platinum Stars
13 Peter Mokaba Stadium 41,733 Polokwane Limpopo Polokwane City
14 Mbombela Stadium 40,929 Nelspruit Mpumalanga Pumas, Mpumalanga Black Aces
15 Free State Stadium 40,911 Bloemfontein Free State Bloemfontein Celtic F.C., Central Cheetahs, Free State Cheetahs
16 Orlando Stadium 40,000 Soweto Gauteng Orlando Pirates F.C.
17 Johannesburg Stadium 37,500 Johannesburg Gauteng training ground for Lions and Golden Lions
18 Charles Mopeli Stadium 35,000 Phuthaditjhaba Free State Maluti FET College F.C.
19 Wanderers Stadium 34,000 Johannesburg Gauteng Proteas, Highveld Lions cricket team, Gauteng cricket team
20 EPRU Stadium 33,852 Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape no current tenant
21 Athlone Stadium 30,000 Cape Town Western Cape Santos
Rand Stadium 30,000 Johannesburg Gauteng training ground for Orlando Pirates
Olympia Park 30,000 Rustenburg North West no current tenant
24 Lucas Moripe Stadium 28,900 Pretoria Gauteng

SuperSport United F.C.
25 HM Pitje Stadium 25,000 Pretoria Gauteng Mamelodi Sundowns F.C.
Sahara Newlands 25,000 Cape Town Western Cape Proteas, Cape Cobras cricket team, Western Province cricket team
Sahara Stadium Kingsmead 25,000 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Proteas, KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins
Independence Stadium 25,000 Mthatha Eastern Cape Mthatha Bush Bucks F.C.
29 Dobsonville Stadium 24,000 Soweto Gauteng Moroka Swallows F.C.
30 Oppenheimer Stadium 23,000 Orkney North West no current tenant
31 Chatsworth Stadium 22,000 Durban KwaZulu-Natal AmaZulu F.C.

Olën Park 22,000 Potchefstroom North West Leopards
34 Botshabelo Stadium 20,000 Bloemfontein Free State Botshabelo F.C.
Goble Park 20,000 Qwa Qwa Free State Free State Stars F.C.

Giyani Stadium 20,000 Giyani Limpopo Black Leopards F.C.


Moruleng Stadium 20,000 Moruleng Limpopo Platinum Stars F.C.
Pilditch Stadium 20,000 Pretoria Gauteng Garankuwa United F.C., Gauteng North Athletics

Chevrolet Park 20,000 Bloemfontein Free State Knights
Seisa Ramabodu Stadium 20,000 Bloemfontein Free State Bloemfontein Celtic F.C.
Thohoyandou Stadium 20,000 Thohoyandou Limpopo Black Leopards F.C.
44 St. Georges Park 19,000 Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape Eastern Province
45 Griqua Park 18,000 Kimberley Northern Cape Griquas
Senwes Park 18,000 Potchefstroom North West Highveld Lions
Germiston Stadium 18,000 Germiston Gauteng Central Gauteng Athletics
48 North West Stadium 17,000 Welkom Free State Griffons
49 Buffalo City Stadium 16,000 East London Eastern Cape Border Bulldogs
Danie Craven Stadium 16,000 Stellenbosch Eastern Cape Stellenbosch Maties
51 Ruimsig Stadium 15,000 Johannesburg Gauteng no current tenant
Sinaba Stadium 15,000 Benoni Gauteng Benoni Premier United
Iscor Stadium 15,000 Sebokeng Gauteng Vaal Professionals
Makhulong Stadium 10.000 Tembisa Gauteng Jomo Cosmos F.C.
Tshego Stadium 15,000 Polokwane Gauteng Ria Stars F.C.
KwaNyamazane Stadium 15,000 Nelspruit Mpumalanga Mbombela United F.C.
Puma Stadium 15,000 Witbank Mpumalanga Pumas
Pietersburg Stadium 15,000 Polokwane Limpopo no current tenant
59 Princess Magogo Stadium 12,000 Durban KwaZulu-Natal AmaZulu F.C.

Milpark 12,000 Johannesburg Gauteng Bidvest Wits F.C.
Eldorado Park Stadium 12,000 Johannesburg Gauteng F.C. AK
63 De Beers Diamond Oval 11,000 Kimberley Northern Cape Griqualand West
Ackerville Stadium 11,000 Witbank Mpumalanga Calaska F.C.
65 Harry Gwala Stadium 10,700 Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal Maritzburg United F.C.
66 Outeniqua Park 10,000 George Western Cape Eagles Rugby
King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium 10,000 Durban KwaZulu-Natal Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C.
Silvermine Stadium 10,000 Cape Town Western Cape Avendale Athletico F.C.
Philippi Stadium 10,000 Cape Town Western Cape Chippa United F.C
Themba Senamela Stadium 10,000 Witbank Mpumalanga Mpumalanga Black Aces F.C.

[rowan]

Of course, Ireland supporters are never going to win any arguments over rugby stadia in this respect.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

How many fecking stadiums do ye need? Surely the point should be that having hosted the World cup in Rugby and Soccer, its time to pass over the French and Saffers and give someone else the chance to host on the understanding that doing so will develop interest in the game and build community bridges.

And in contrast to Safferland, with the notable exception of Limerick after dark, there is at least a reasonable chance that ye'll be able to get back to yer hotel after the post-match-piss-up without getting knifed or shot or infected with AIDS or scoffed by a lion.

[rowan]

No arguments Ireland has enough stadiums, though I think most of them are in Dublin, last time I looked, and there were even doubts over the availability of the main venue in the second biggest city on the island (not sure what the latest is on that front). Just saying there is no comparison. If we're looking at stadia, South Africa has arguably the best array of rugby-purpose venues in the world and a myriad of fairly recently upgraded soccer grounds to back that up. The only question with SA, really, is government support - which they now have. The republic has proved its ability to stage major events without incidents in the past, and if we're going to start being afraid on the crime front then Brazil needs to be dropped from the agenda pronto.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

No arguments Ireland has enough stadiums, though I think most of them are in Dublin, last time I looked, and there were even doubts over the availability of the main venue in the second biggest city on the island (not sure what the latest is on that front). Just saying there is no comparison. If we're looking at stadia, South Africa has arguably the best array of rugby-purpose venues in the world and a myriad of fairly recently upgraded soccer grounds to back that up. The only question with SA, really, is government support - which they now have. The republic has proved its ability to stage major events without incidents in the past, and if we're going to start being afraid on the crime front then Brazil needs to be dropped from the agenda pronto.

You really must start reading other people's posts.

[rowan]

I do, but the old 'give it to someone new' argument is pure hogwash because the Irish, who have never even made the semis, have been involved in co-hosting twice; the UK (which is technically part of the Irish bid, like it or not) has been involved in co-hosting 4 times, and South Africa (the second biggest and most successful nation in the game) has only been involved in hosting once - over 20 years ago in the amateur era when they did a superb job. Since then Australia, France, NZ, England have all hosted for the 2nd time. It's one of various arguments being repeatedly trotted about that simply don't hold water. That's why I didn't respond to it the first time

[Eugene Wrayburn]

You clearly don't, because you persist with this nonsense that the stadiums are all in Dublin.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/ireland2023/#worldClassVenues

[rowan]

I believe I wrote "most of them," which may have been an exaggeration at worst. So perhaps it is you who should start reading people's posts properly. Anyway, I've no wish to go over old ground. Comparing Ireland to South Africa in rugby is absurd. Now that government support has been secured it's a no contest. The tournament should rightfully be awarded to the latter. & personally I'd much prefer to see it go to France in 2027 than Ireland, if both nations bid again.