SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer expresses doubt about New Zealand and South Africa hosting the Rugby World Cup again, citing revenue challenges. The Springboks and All Blacks, the tournament's most successful nations, have collectively won seven of the ten quadrennial competitions. New Zealand co-hosted the inaugural tournament in 1987 with Australia and hosted solo in 2011, while South Africa hosted in 1995 but has struggled to secure bids since, most recently in 2023. The next men's World Cup in 2027 will be in Australia, followed by the USA, and Oberholzer believes future tournaments are unlikely to return to Africa or Aotearoa due to revenue constraints. The tournament's sole revenue stream funds World Rugby's unions over four years, and taking it to America, Europe, or the Middle East is more profitable than hosting in South Africa or New Zealand. Oberholzer acknowledges the challenge, stating, 'It is a challenge for us going forward.' He emphasizes that World Rugby's decision is driven by revenue generation, not equal opportunity. Oberholzer clarifies that hosting a World Cup in these countries won't generate the necessary revenue, and it's in World Rugby's best interests. This shift from equal opportunity to revenue-driven decisions has sparked debate, with some questioning the fairness of the selection process. The article also mentions potential future bids from Spain, Japan, Argentina, Italy, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, highlighting the global competition for hosting rights.
