South Africa preferred 2023 Rugby World Cup host

The Rugby World Cup Board has officially recommended South Africa as host for the international rugby tournament.

However, the final decision will be put to a vote on 15 November. 

South Africa, who hosted the 1995 tournament, is up against Ireland and France as hosts for the tournament.

The Board made its recommendation on Tuesday following detailed consideration of the comprehensive host candidate evaluation report. 

World Rugby and Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bill Beaumont says: "The comprehensive and independently scrutinised evaluation reaffirmed that we have three exceptional bids but it also identified South Africa as a clear leader based on performance against the key criteria, which is supported by the Board in the recommendation.

"I would like to congratulate South Africa on a superb bid and all the bid teams for their dedication and professionalism throughout the process to date. Our colleagues on the World Rugby Council will now meet on 15 November in London to consider the Board's recommendation and vote to decide the host of Rugby World Cup 2023."

Independent auditors will oversee the process and the vote on 15 November, which will comprise a total of 39 votes, with a simple majority required to select the Rugby World Cup 2023 host. 

Japan will host the next tournament in 2019. 

Meanwhile, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux says South Africa would deliver a "Triple Win" Rugby World Cup in 2023.

"We told the World Rugby Council that we would deliver a triple win tournament when we presented to them last month - a win for the game with record receipts; a win for the fans with an unforgettable tournament in a bucket-list destination and, most importantly, a win for the players with the most athlete-centric event in the tournament's history," Roux says.

"This nomination is confirmation of that belief and reward for an outstanding bid in which no detail was too small to be addressed or any question not comprehensively answered. We are 100% confident that the commitments we made in our document will be delivered. We will make all of world rugby proud of South Africa 2023."