NRFF bids to host 2023 Rugby World Cup African qualifiers

Rugby Africa has given Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Cameroun the nod to bid for the hosting right of the 2021 Africa Cup elimination and repechage qualifiers for the 2023 Rugby World Cup slated to take place in France.

According to a statement by the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Rugby Africa consulted all eight unions eligible to participate in the Rugby Africa Cup elimination & repechage process in 2021, and only four countries, which include Nigeria, said they would meet the criteria to host the tournament.

Rugby Africa decided to skip the single elimination matches and move directly to the repechage tournament phase, which Nigeria wants to host.

The NRFF noted that Rugby Africa has suggested June 3 to June 14 as the dates to the countries biding to host the tournament, adding that the African Rugby body also outlined the number of delegations expected at the championship for each team, which is 25 players and three staff members. 

“Considering that three out of four teams are based in Western Africa, Rugby Africa would like to suggest to host the tournament in either Burkina Faso, Cameroun, or Nigeria and invite the three unions to submit their bid should they be interested. Please see attached the hosting bid document, kindly answer in each section with as much details as available and feel free to add more supporting documents. 

“This document also explains the tournament format and fixtures.

We look forward to organising a great tournament. We will be in touch with you again about travel arrangements, tournament manual and so on once the hosting venue is selected. In the meantime, please ensure that you are contracting a team insurance that will cover the usual as well as COVID-19 treatment and hospitalisation costs if needed,” Rugby Africa’s statement reads.

Four countries will participate in the qualifiers, with the winner qualifying for the main Africa Cup Championship, which is another round of qualifiers for the France 2023 Rugby World Cup.