Argentina have withdrawn their bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, giving Australia a free run as the only southern hemisphere candidate, according to reports.
The Argentine government announced in 2016 that the country would bid to bring the tournament to South America for the first time,.
However, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph quoted World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot as saying that was no longer the case.
“We discussed it with Australia and we thought it was not good for us to compete against our partner,” said Argentine Pichot.
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“So we decided to just let Australia run because they also had a stronger project.”
The Russian Rugby Union is the only other country who has expressed an interest in hosting the 2027 tournament at the stadiums used for the 2018 soccer World Cup. World Rugby is expected to decide the hosts next year.
Back in 2015, these five England youngsters were tipped for stardom
Back in 2015, Wales Online released a list of 25 potential stars of the future who could become household names.
Five England youngsters made the cut, but they’ve had mixed fortunes to say the least in the five years that have followed.
Here’s what they’re up to now…
1. Charlie Ewels
What they said: The Bath second-row captained England to Six Nations success after being part of the World Cup winning side from last year in New Zealand.
Where they are now: A senior-call up was not far behind with Ewels showing his world-class pedigree in the Bath Rugby ranks. The second rower made his bow off the replacement bench during England’s 58-15 victory over Fiji in 2016. Still with Bath, the 24-year-old has struggled to break into the England side on a regular basis due to the consistency of Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes, but has accumulated 12 caps.