Ireland's Rugby World Cup 2023 dreams dashed as France wins the vote

IRELAND’S dream of hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2023 is over. 

World Rugby voted in London this morning and the decision was made to award the hosting of the World Cup to France.

An independent body, hired by World Rugby, gave a recommendation that South Africa should host the tournamnent, but a secret ballot has given the tournament to France who last hosted the tournament in 2007. 

The first round vote saw Ireland knocked out of the process with just 8 votes from a possible 39 canvassed countries. 

France 18 - Ireland 8 - South Africa 13

The second round saw France win the bid with 24 of the 39 votes on offer, beating the South African bid by nine votes. 

France 24 - South Africa 15 

Some background information on that voting process. 

Who was entitled to vote?

The Tier 1 nations not involved in the bidding process - England, Wales, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand - have three votes each. Japan and the regional associations - Oceania, South America, North America, Africa, Europe and Asia all have two votes. And the other unions - Canada, USA, Georgia and Romania have a single vote each.

Were the votes cast in public?

No, it was done by secret ballot with the votes counted by an independent auditor.