France have won the hosting rights to the 2023 World Cup, somehow managing to persuade a majority of voting members to go against the preferred bidder, South Africa.
A second round of voting was required after votes were initially split between South Africa, Ireland and France with the latter emerging
successful in the second round.
The outcome will be considered not only a shock, but a major embarrassment to World Rugby who were hopeful that by having all three bids independently assessed, the vote would have been a straightforward case of rubber stamping the preferred option.
The members weren't bound to vote in accordance with the recommendation but all had agreed to the new process having expressed concerns that the horse trading associated with previous World Cup hosting bids had to stop.
Both France and Ireland, though, have been vocal in their displeasure with the independent assessment which placed them well behind South Africa.
