International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset has said that South Africa have a “real chance” of hosting the 2023 rugby World Cup.

“Because of the soccer World Cup (in 2010) there is now a new possibility for South Africa to organise big events like the rugby World Cup and there’s a real chance that in 2023 they can organise it,” he told Reuters.

“In terms of the World Cup we have certain key unions and South Africa is part of that,” he said.

“Now it has these new stadiums it has the capacity to run very big tournaments.”

Lapasset and IRB CEO Mike Miller held meetings with South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula on Thursday to discuss the IRB’s future role in helping South Africa develop the game and across Africa.

“The minister indicated to us that the government would be fully behind a bid for 2023 and were very keen for the World Cup to come here again,” said Miller.

“It’s up to the IRB council to decide where it should go but I would have thought that South Africa would have a very compelling bid.”

“It’s most likely, having gone to Japan in 2019 where we’re taking a bit of a risk, that council would probably want to go back to one of the traditional powerhouses of rugby in 2023 and South Africa is clearly one of those.

“There’s no doubt that Japan, having had 10 years to prepare, has been very helpful but South Africa won’t need 10 years.”

However, Mr Miller added that the decision one which country would be awarded the right to host the 2023 Rugby world cup would probably be taken in 2013.

Miller has also said in the past that America would host a rugby world cup and that it was a matter of when and not if.

New Zealand will host the Rugby world cup later this year, then in 2015 England will host the rugby world cup and in 2019 Japan will host the rugby world cup.

The next available slot for either America, South Africa or any other contender would be 2023.

South Africa hosted the rugby world cup in 1995 when they made their debut in the tournament and beat the All Blacks 15-12 in the final to win the tournament.

Miller added that his organisation was happy with New Zealand’s preparations for hosting this year’s World Cup.

“With just over 200 days to go we’re very pleased with the preparations so far,” he said.

“The renovations on all the stadiums have been done and we don’t have any concerns.

“There were worries about whether there would be enough hotel rooms but there will be three cruise ships that will house thousands of people.

“New Zealanders know that this is their opportunity to showcase New Zealand to the world.”

“They also know that they will probably never get an event of this size again.”