At this stage, four countries have expressed a firm interest in hosting the 2023 competition.
There was more good news for Ireland's Rugby World Cup 2023 bidding team, on Monday, when President of Argentina Mauricio Macri revealed the South American country would be focusing on a 2027 bid.
Argentina had long been feared as a major contender for the Irish bid but their union believes the time-scale for 2023 is unrealistic. The union will make their 2027 bid official in October when tournament organisers pay an early, exploratory visit.
The withdrawal of Argentina, who have reached semi-finals in two of the last three tournaments, leaves the race for 2023 between three European countries and South Africa.
Italy have made an official bid while France have expressed a strong interest without publicising the matter. The official deadline application is September of this year. Ireland are going full tilt for the tournament, which will next be held in Japan in 2019.
South Africa were the early favourites until Fikile Mbalula, their Minister of Sport and Recreation, withdrew the privileges of SA Rugby to bid for international tournaments.
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That decision may yet be reviewed but, for now, the main contenders would appear to be Ireland and Italy.
An official World Rugby decision on the 2023 host is not expected until next July with the public discovering on November 2017.
