Bravo, France, but at what cost to rugby’s transparency and integrity? | Robert Kitson

France will put on a good show but the vote to award it rather than South Africa a second World Cup has all the hallmarks of naked self-interestIt is worth keeping in mind on these occasions that rugby union usually strikes gold with its World Cup hosting decisions. Australia proved a runaway success in 2003 despite New Zealand’s de-selection as co-host, France staged a grand tournament four years later, an entire nation of rugby-mad Kiwis rose to the logistical challenge in 2011 and the record sums generated by England 2015 were matched only by the intense interest levels.Japan will be next u…