France are doing all they can to make sure they host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
Along with Ireland and South Africa, the three nations are vying to host the tournament with Ireland seen as the favourites to win the November 15th vote.
As part of the bidding process, each nation must guarantee a hosting fee to be paid to World Rugby. The winning nation for the 2023 will be required to hand over €135million to the organisers. In a last-ditch bid to gain some final votes, France's bid leader Claude Atcher has said his country will pay more than is required.
According to Reuters, the France 2023 bid will offer an additional €35million as it hopes to host the tournament for the first time since 2007.
You have to pay a fee to host. It is a minimum. We have proposed not 120 million pounds but 150 million pounds...
This fee is 100 percent guaranteed by the French government.
Earlier this month, France's bid hit the rocks when the French Rugby Federation President Bernard Laporte was found to have used his influence to have a ban handed down to Top14 side Montpellier lessened.
Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad has a business relationship with Lapote. Altrad's eponymous company also sponsor the French national team, and are one of the backers of the France 2023 bid.
While Laporte's involvement with the bid has lessened in recent weeks, the reputational damage was seen as potentially a fatal blow for the bid.
All three bids will present to the World Rugby council later this month, with the decision being made in November.
Whether the promise of more money from the French proves to be decisive remains to be seen.
