Ireland were a distant third when the votes were counted for the 2023 World Cup today.
The Irish bid garnered just eight votes, and was comfortably beaten by the winning bid of France and the recommended bid of South Africa.
South African Rugby CEO Jurie Roux claims a transparent process turned opaque for the past two weeks.
The first round saw Ireland win just 8 votes, which meant of the 'home' nations, only England voted for the Irish bid.
Irish Rugby CEO Philip Browne does not think France hosting will help rugby expand its audience. He said:
"I think world rugby has a vision it's going to be a global sport. Well, if it is to be a global sport it needs to have vision and at the moment one has to question whether that vision is backed up by the sort of criteria that were set down in relation this bid."
