Mark Alexander, the newly elected president of South African Rugby (SAR), has vowed to reignite the stalled bid for the country to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Speaking for the first time since his appointment, Alexander listed a bid as one of the 'priorities' of his tenure.

Alexander, elected at a special general council meeting yesterday (27 October), said he was confident that SRA would meet the racial transformation targets which a bid to host the event currently hinge on.

SRA was one of four South African sport federations banned from bidding for major international tournaments earlier this year by the country’s sports minister Fikile Mbalula. The national governing bodies of rugby, cricket, athletics and netball were deemed to have “failed to create enough opportunities” for black players.

Mbalula has struck an agreement with SAR that half the 2019 South Africa World Cup team in Japan must be black.

“Transformation for us is not a ‘tick-box’ exercise,” Alexander said. “It is a business imperative for rugby to stay vibrant and relevant as a sport in an evolving South Africa.

“I’m pleased to say that we have made good progress in 2016 although we know more work needs to be done. That said I am confident of a favourable report from the Eminent Persons’ Group to allow us to bid for an event that could have a tremendous, transformative impact on the lives of all South Africans.”

Alexander added that according to an economic impact study, a Rugby World Cup in South Africa would create 38,600 temporary or permanent jobs, have a direct, indirect and induced economic impact of R27.3bn (US$1.97bn, £1.6bn, €1.8bn) and contribute R5.7bn (US$411m, €377m, £339m) to low income households.

It is also predicted to bring around 200,000 foreign tourists to South Africa and produce R1.4bn (US$101m, €93m, £83m) in estimated tax revenues for government.

As well as a World Cup bid, Alexander outlined a number of priorities for SA Rugby in the short and medium term.

He said the organisation faced a number of challenges but he was confident that they could be addressed by a “100-day plan” which focuses on assisting the national team, addressing the structure and sustainability of member unions and redesigning SA Rugby’s competition structure.