ROAD TO 2024: French Rugby Chief Backs Paris

French Rugby Federation President Bernard Laporte has insisted France has the capabilities to host both the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The French rugby team will wear ‘France 2023’ logos on their jerseys during this weekend’s Six Nations fixture against Scotland at Stade de France.

France is competing with Ireland and South Africa to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“An international event, rugby or otherwise, is a chance for France to shine on the international stage,” Laporte said, according to the Associated Press news agency.

“It’s an additional value for us. You can see that with Brazil — they had the 2014 World Cup and the Olympics (in Rio). Japan will have the (Rugby) World Cup in 2019 and the Olympics straight after in Tokyo (2020).”

Paris is up against Budapest and Los Angeles for the right to host the 2024 Olympics.