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France to pay extra £30m to beat Ireland, South Africa to World Cup

France were second behind South Africa in the report released this week. BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP/Getty Images

France's bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup is to include a £150 million fee to World Rugby, £30m more than the amount required.

The successful nation must pay a fee to World Rugby in order to host the tournament. The minimum sum has risen to £120m for 2023, up from the £96m that Japan paid for 2019.

In an unusual step France is to go over the required cost by £30m in an attempt to trump fellow bidders Ireland and South Africa.

Claude Atcher, director of the France 2023 bid, said: "It's a fee. You have to pay it as a host. For that you need a financial guarantee from the Government. We have proposed not £120 million, but £150 million."

Due to the financial struggles Japan have faced since winning the 2019 bid, this fee must also have a complete guarantee. France have signed an agreement with Societe Generale.

Atcher added: "World Rugby ask the candidate to prove they can cover the cost of the organisation.

"For that we have signed an agreement with Societe Generale, which has a AAA rating and is one of the top 20 banks in the world."