Both of Rugby Africa’s votes went the way of France in the final voting process to determine the 2023 World Cup hosts.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, the 18 votes that went to France in the first round came from five countries: Scotland (3), Italy (3), Japan (2), Georgia (1), Romania (1) – and four confederations – Africa (2), Asia (2), South America (2), Oceania (2).

In the second round, the votes of the votes of England (2 of 3), Canada (1), United States (1) and North America (2) also reportedly went to France, handing them the outright majority from a possible total of 39 votes.

The Rugby Africa president Abdelaziz Bougja is a French citizen of Moroccan descent, who has been living in France for 30 years.

South Africa can certainly feel aggrieved to have not received the vote from their African counterparts, and perhaps also that of Japan, who now have a team competing in Super Rugby.