<P> After hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, World Rugby may look to host the tournament in the sports' ' heartlands', leaving South Africa and Ireland as favourites . </P> <P> South Africa is considered one of the frontrunners to host the 2023 competition, having hosted the 1995 tournament and bid unsuccessfully for the right to host the 2011, 2015, and 2019 tournaments . </P> <P> In April 2016 the South African government banned its own rugby union from bidding to stage the 2023 World Cup over its failure to provide enough opportunities for black players . SA Rugby sought urgent talks with sports minister Fikile Mbalula in an effort to get its ban lifted in time for it to bid for the Rugby World Cup 2023 . Jurie Roux, the chief executive of SA Rugby stated "There is no question that we have more work to do and we could be moving faster, but our sport has undergone a major overhaul in the past two or three years and we have definitely made great progress ." </P> <P> South Africa confirmed the bid on 9 May 2017 after the ban was lifted . There are optimistic projections of a R27 billion injection to the local economy by hosting the event, with a focus on eight stadiums across seven cities . </P>

When will the 2023 rugby world cup be held