South Africa's national rugby and football bodies have formed a strong alliance that could see the country host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, just a year after South Africa will be hosting the FIFA Football World Cup.

A rugby-football alliance emerged on Friday after the SA Sports Commission's Bidding and Hosting Committee met to iron out a strategy to bring the 2011 RWC to South Africa.

"We were assured by SARFU president Brian van Rooyen, that his executive supports 100 percent the strategy of the Bidding committee - as led by both Mthobi Tyamzashe and Francois Pienaar," Dan Moyo, CEO of the South African Sports Commission, said.

"Obviously there is formidable opposition for this bid from other major countries like Japan and New Zealand and we hope that unity within Rugby and the support of the whole nation will assist this team to win the Bid for South Africa."

Moyo said that a presentation done by CEO of SAFA Danny Jordaan on Wednesday enlightened the committee on the progress made on the 2010 Football World Cup.

"A twined side-by-side campaign of both football and rugby is under discussion between the two bodies," he said.

Committee members included the SARFU's president Brian van Rooyen,Mthobi Tyamzashe (chairperson for the bid) Mveleli Ncula (SARFU CEO) and Francois Pienaar, who captained South Africa to victory at the 1995 RWC.

This committee presented the strategy and the plans for the campaign.

"This committee will be preparing an updated report for the Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile, for his consideration to endorse the bid," said Moyo.

blog comments powered by Disqus