South Africa could bring the Rugby World Cup home after 40 years
CAPE TOWN — South Africa has emerged as a possible late contender to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup, 40 years after the Springboks’ historic 1995 triumph on home soil, but the country’s rugby bosses have not yet entered the increasingly crowded race.
The bidding process is gathering momentum, with Spain, Japan and a four-country South American bid among the contenders for a tournament that will follow Australia in 2027 and the United States in 2031. World Rugby is expected to identify a preferred host by May 2027 before making the formal appointment in November.
South Africa remains outside the formal race, but its name continues to feature prominently because of its rugby pedigree, existing stadium infrastructure and previous attempts to bring the tournament back to the country.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has publicly pushed for the Rugby World Cup’s return, telling Parliament during his 2026 Budget Vote that he would not rest until South Africa hosted the tournament again.
“We have the best players, the best teams, the best World Cup team – we’ve won the World Cup multiple times – we have to host the World Cup,” McKenzie said.
SA Rugby, however, has been considerably more cautious.
President Mark Alexander previously said the organisation had decided against bidding because of the cost of upgrading stadiums, while SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer has questioned whether South Africa can generate the financial returns available to World Rugby from tournaments staged in Europe or other wealthier markets.
That financial calculation could prove decisive.
South Africa last hosted the tournament in 1995 and has tried repeatedly to bring it back. The country lost bids for the 2011, 2015 and 2019 tournaments and was recommended as the preferred candidate for the 2023 Rugby World Cup following a technical evaluation, only for France to ultimately win the World Rugby Council vote.
The competition for 2035 is already substantial.
Spain has formally entered the race and could benefit from World Rugby’s interest in returning the men’s tournament to Europe after successive editions in Australia and the United States. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin previously raised the possibility of a regional rotation that would bring the 2035 men’s and 2037 women’s tournaments back to Europe.
Japan, which hosted the 2019 tournament, has also confirmed its bid, while Argentina is leading an ambitious South American proposal involving Uruguay, Chile and Brazil. If successful, it would take the Rugby World Cup to South America for the first time.
South Africa therefore faces a decision rather than an established bid.
The country has the unusual distinction of being the most successful nation in Rugby World Cup history while having hosted the tournament only once. It also possesses major stadiums developed or upgraded for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, although SA Rugby has warned that further work would still be required to meet World Rugby’s requirements.
For McKenzie’s ambition to become more than political intent, SA Rugby and the government would need to resolve the financial guarantees, stadium costs and commercial case that have kept the country out of recent bidding processes.
For now, South Africa remains the potential late entrant everyone knows can stage a Rugby World Cup, but has yet to decide whether it can afford to chase one again.
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