And then there were three.
The South African Rugby Union have been suspended from hosting major sporting events by their own government.
Fikile Mbalula, the Minister of Sport and Recreation, has withdrawn the privileges of SA Rugby to bid for international tournaments. Cricket South Africa, Athletics SA, and Netball SA join them on that suspension list.
Each sporting body had "transformation targets" to meet but rugby, cricket, netball, and athletics have failed to meet said targets and their rights to host or bid for major competitions in the Republic of South Africa has been banned with immediate effect.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/724530056681414656
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/724531085888086016
The decision could have major implications on the bidding process for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in which Ireland are vying for.
Argentina, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa were among the four nations who had intended to tender bids for the rights of the tournament. The latter three had all expressed an official interest but Argentina's Agustin Pichot has declared his nation is seriously considering a bid.
There was talk of a French bid but it was not covered in their recent root and branch review after a disappointing 2015 campaign.
South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995 but Mbalula's decision would see them withdraw from the process.
The idea of the transformation is based on the data that 84% of the country’s Under-18-year-old population was black African and only 16% white, coloured and Indian but that's not necessarily reflected in sport.
There will be a review of the decision.
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/724531349797912576
As it stands though, a main competitor of Ireland's is out of the running, leaving just Italy and Argentina to contest with.
