South Africa has entered the bidding race to host the 2028 women’s and 2030 men’s International Rugby League (IRL) World Cups in an effort to ‘change the trajectory of rugby league’ in the country, Cape {town} Etc reports.
South Africa has ample facilities, a ‘tremendous amount’ of youth players, as well as passionate sporting spectatorship.
Also read: SA joins bid to host 2030 IRL Men’s Rugby League World Cup
‘A World Cup creates an opportunity for any sporting code to invest in development and communities. Not only would it raise the profile of the sport, but also lead to additional investment in communities. You only need to look at the 2021 IRL World Cup in England where more than £26 million was invested in communities because of the World Cup’, said Chris Botes, managing director of Maxxium Sport Enterprises.
‘From an economic perspective the benefit is clear. Hosting an international tournament with 10 countries playing brings in international spectators who stay for more than a week and spend significant money in South Africa. We estimate the economic benefit of the 2030 IRL World Cup to be in excess of R4 billion at this stage,’ added Botes.
Find your perfect set of wheels with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
Rugby league (RL) was first played in South Africa in the 1950s, when international teams played a series of exhibition matches, but due to the touring sides’ ‘lacklustre performance’ any appetite for the sport in South Africa diminished.
It was not until 1962 that efforts to reinvigorate the game went ahead, with two rival leagues introducing rugby league in South Africa, with the National Rugby League (NRL) and Rugby League South Africa (RLSA) both introducing their own competitions.
After a year apart and with pressure from the international governing body, both the NRL and RSLA merged to create a single league based in Johannesburg, with nine teams playing in the inaugural season.
The sport was then banned in South Africa due to players being ‘paid for their exploits’ and because players of colour were allowed to play.
Rugby league saw a return in South Africa, with the sport being slowly revitalised in the late 1980s, but South Africa’s ‘global political standing’ as a result of apartheid stifled the attempted resurrection.
Until 1992, a series of friendlies and township clinics were the only signs of life for rugby league in the country, which highlighted rugby league’s attempts at becoming a community sport.
Following a 1992 tournament composed of teams from across the country, the game seemed to finally be on the rise.
RL continued to grow, helped by township clinics and RL highlights packages being broadcast on South African televisions.
Four years later, in 1996, South Africa was invited to rejoin the international RL governing body.
A year later, South Africa assembled a side that competed in an international tournament, but with ‘little support from the government’, it became a struggle to maintain this momentum.
While individuals have continued to pioneer the sport in South Africa, the lack of government recognition and widespread support from schools has ‘stifled the growth’ of rugby league in South Africa.
The lack of official backing has also meant that the national team, the Rhinos, has struggled to go deep in international tournaments.
The best effort to date has been a quarterfinal appearance in 2013 at the Student World Cup, as well as currently being ranked 26th in the world.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
South African RL president Dr Frans Erasmus has commented on the benefits rugby league brings to communities.
‘Rugby league globally is a community-focussed sport and has a well-known legacy of developing and supporting communities,’ said Erasmus.
‘Along with our international and national stakeholders, we will be launching our One Community One Team project soon and its focus will be on harnessing the power of sport to positively affect long-lasting change in communities,’ Erasmus added.
Also read:
Dobson and Maytham drive support for Barrydale club rugby with Bok tickets prize
Picture: Supplied