Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
World Rugby has confirmed the Rugby World Cup selection process until RWC 2031. The announced outlines the procedures for determining the hosts of the men’s 2027 and 2031 in addition to the women’s 2025 and 2029 tournaments.
There are to be the following three phases: 1. Dialogue Phase, 2. Candidate Phase and 3. Evaluation Phase.
The Dialogue Phase will begin in February 2021. World Rugby says it is “an opportunity for open communication between World Rugby and unions, governments and other key stakeholders. This will allow potential hosts to understand the business and delivery model, how they will partner with World Rugby and ultimately build a compelling proposal.”
The Candidate Phase will follow. Starting May 2021 it will be the formal process for unions who are interested in hosting one of the men’s, women’s or both RWCs from 2025-2031. World Rugby stated that “candidates will construct their proposals with World Rugby providing ongoing clarification and support to ensure the best-possible model. The phase culminates with candidates submitting Candidate files, hosting agreements and guarantees in January 2022.”
The Valuation Phase will take place in February 2022. World Rugby will analyze the respective bids and determine which ones are deemed the best: “bids will be evaluated by relevant industry experts against the key criteria agreed by World Rugby Council. The evaluation report will be provided to Council for a vote in May 2022.”
Canada hosted the 2006 Women’s RWC. Matches were played in the Alberta cities of Edmonton and St. Albert. The Americas have yet to host a Men’s RWC. Possibilities exist for Argentina, Canada and the USA to each host a men’s RWC. Alternatively Canada and the could USA to co-host a RWC or Uruguay could receive matches similar to to Wales in 2015 if Argentina were to host in 2027 or 2031.
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper is on record in wanting the USA to bid to host RWC 2027 or 2031. Argentina has confirmed that it is out of the race to host RWC 2027. Argentina was going to bid to host RWC 2023 only to pull out due to the calculated risk of who else was bidding, most notably France. Former hosts England are set to bid to host RWC 2031.
