Wear Green on Wednesday to Support the Rugby World Cup Announcement

The South African Government is urging the public to wear green on Wednesday in support of the announcement regarding which country will host the Rugby World Cup 2023 tournament.

The hotly anticipated final announcement on whether South Africa will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be made on Wednesday at around 3pm South African time.

“Government therefore takes this opportunity to urge members of the public and the media this Wednesday to wear green in support of the Rugby World Cup 2023 announcement and further,” said the Department of Sport and Recreation on Tuesday.

The final decision on which country will host the spectacle rests with 26 World Rugby Council members who collectively exercise 39 votes and among whom a simple majority is required to secure the hosting rights. The three bidding countries namely South Africa, France and Ireland do not vote.

Those eligible to vote and the number of votes in the secret ballot on 15 November are Australia, England, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and Argentina each with three votes. Countries with two votes each are Japan, Asia Rugby, Oceania Rugby, Rugby Africa, Rugby Americas North, Rugby Europe, Sudamerica Rugby. Georgia, Romania, USA, Canada trail behind with one voter per country.

Government’s high powered delegation, headed by Deputy President Ramaphosa, Minister of Sport and Recreation Thulas Nxesi and SA Rugby President Mark Alexander are in London, United Kingdom, where the final announcement will be made.

Two weeks ago, South Africa’s bid in London was named as the “clear leader” and “unanimous” choice by the Rugby World Cup board to host the tournament.

The announcement will be broadcast live on SuperSport (Channel 201).

The public can watch the announcement at Sammy Marks Square in Tshwane from 12:30pm.

This green view area is expected to be jam packed with activities inclusive of artists’ performance, dancers and various speakers.

Deputy President Ramaphosa led the Rugby World Cup Bid Team SA in September when it presented its case to host the 2023 tournament that will take place 200 years after the invention of the game of rugby by William Webb Ellis. – SAnews.gov.za