SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer expresses doubt about New Zealand and South Africa hosting the Rugby World Cup again, citing revenue concerns. 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 has hosted only once in 1995, failing 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 it's unlikely the tournament will return to Africa or Aotearoa in the future due to revenue challenges. The tournament is the sole revenue stream for World Rugby to fund its 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 this as a challenge, stating that World Rugby must prioritize revenue generation and seek support from local and national governments. This shift from equal opportunity hosting to revenue-driven decisions has sparked controversy, with South Africa's potential bid for 2035 in question. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin confirms a potential return to Europe in 2035, with Spain, Japan, Argentina, Italy, and Middle Eastern nations (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) also in the running. Oberholzer emphasizes the importance of revenue generation for the rugby ecosystem, suggesting that the focus on money is a necessary evolution in the sport's hosting strategy.
