2023 Rugby World Cup bids following four nations by the deadline of 15 June 2015: 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. South Africa was 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. 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.
New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, have played 50 matches in the eight Rugby World Cup tournaments from 1987 to 2015. They won the 1987, 2011 and 2015 tournaments. They are the only team never to have lost a pool match and to have always qualified in first place from every group. Their worst performance was in 2007, when they lost a quarter-final to France; they have made it to at least the semi-finals at all the other tournaments. New Zealand hosted the inaugural tournament in