France will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
It had been expected the tournament would be awarded to South Africa – the recommended choice after a review by tournament organisers.
Ireland received just 8 votes and were eliminated in the first round of voting.
South Africa Rugby say they’re ‘bitterly disappointed’ by the decision’ and apologised for ‘raising the hopes’ of their nation while Irish Rugby have tweeted their congratulations to France.
It’s France’s first time to stage the tournament since 2007
