SOUTH Africa has received the World Rugby board’s recommendation to host the 2023 World Cup ahead of Ireland and France.

The announcement almost certainly ends Irish hopes of staging the tournament on its own for the first time.

An official decision will not be made until November 15 although South Africa is all but guaranteed to pip Ireland and France, with World Rugby’s council unlikely to go against its board.

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “The comprehensive and independently scrutinised evaluation reaffirmed that we have three exceptional bids but it also identified South Africa as a clear leader based on performance against the key criteria, which is supported by the board in the recommendation.”

The host candidate evaluation report assessed a series of categories: vision and hosting concept, tournament organisation and schedule, venues and host cities, tournament infrastructure, and finance, commercial and commitments.

Each was weighted as a percentage and then combined, with South Africa receiving the highest mark of 78.97 per cent, with France on 75.88 per cent and Ireland 72.25 per cent.

South Africa last staged the World Cup in 1995, the first major sporting event the country hosted following the end of apartheid.

The Springboks defeated New Zealand in the final, and the sight of Nelson Mandela in a South African rugby jersey and cap, presenting the Webb Ellis Cup to captain Francois Pienaar, remains one of sport’s most unifying and enduring images.

Ireland staged World Cup matches in 1991 and 1999 but had been seeking to host the tournament on its own in six years’ time, proposing a cross-border pitch.

Despite being ranked third IRFU chairman Dick Spring said: “There is nothing in the report which is insurmountable and this is certainly not the end of the road.”