Beaumont denies World Cup humiliation

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont denied feeling humiliated after the council voted for France over South Africa as 2023 World Cup host.

The World Rugby council went against its recommended host, South Africa, who were the preferred nation of the independent review two weeks ago.

On Wednesday in London though the votes went in favour of France, who saw off both Ireland and South Africa in a fascinating late twist to the drama.

South Africa’s media have since been open in their anger about the decision, but Beaumont stressed it had been a “transparent selection process”.

“A humiliation for me? I don’t think so. I don’t think that at all,” Beaumont told a media conference.

“There’s always got to be one recommendation in the evaluation process and that was South Africa.

“Just because it went to France doesn’t mean there’s humiliation whatsoever.

“If you look, there wasn’t a great deal between France and South Africa in the evaluation report. It was very close.

“We feel the process has been absolutely transparent. Everyone’s been able to see how the scoring was.”