Italy follows SARU's World Cup bid
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Italy have announced that they would bid to host the 2023 World Cup after South Africa expressed their interest in hosting the global showpiece.
The Italians will face competition form Ireland as while as South Africa and the United States who are expected to bid.
Governing body World Rugby will launch its expression of interest phase for countries aiming to stage the 2023 tournament in May but a final decision is not due until 2017.
England hosts this year's edition, which runs from September 18 to October 31, with Japan staging it in 2019.
Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) president Alfredo Gavazzi said: "I am sure that Italian rugby has everything you need to organise a memorable Rugby World Cup and that whole movement, in the next two years, will work to ensure that this dream can become a reality."
Italy has never hosted the World Cup, while Ireland staged games in 1991 and 1999 without being the principal hosts.
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