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Spain is interested in hosting the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2035 and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2037. Writing for Marca, Fernando M. Carreño confirmed that Spain Rugby (FER) told World Rugby in December 2023 that they would like to host the tournaments.
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The communication was that of exclusively Spanish hosted Rugby World Cups. In other words, the idea of a Spain and Portugal co-hosted Rugby World Cup was not communicated from the FER to World Cup. The idea was discussed in October following Portugal’s participation in a second Men’s Rugby World Cup.
Carreño reports that World Rugby Chairman, Bill Beaumont warmed to the idea of Spain hosting Rugby World Cups. World Rugby has struggled to allocate Rugby World Cups to new hosts. Rugby World Cup 2023 was in France as was 2007. Rugby World Cup 2027 will be in Australia just like 2003 was.
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World Rugby’s bid process is flawed and broken. France 2023 was determined in 2017 with South Africa and Ireland missing out. Nonetheless, World Rugby had named South Africa as the recommended host. Argentina and Italy were both interested but pulled-out Both were notably reluctant to bid against France. World Rugby singled out the USA for 2031 rather than having bids like that for 2023 and earlier tournaments.
Italy bid for RWCs 2015 and 2019 but was unsuccessful. England won 2015 to as a repeated host with Wales also again hosting matches. Japan 2019 and South Africa 1995 are the two times that the Men’s World Cup was hosted in one country for the only time thus far.
Prior hosts are interested in hosting again in 2035. New Zealand, England and Japan have expressed their desire of hosting additional World Cups in upcoming tournament cycles. They hosted in 2011, 2015 and 2019 respectively.
ARN’s Paul Tait explored new options for hosting future Rugby World Cups. Spain was among the six possibilities documented. Italy is another and the FIR has expressed interest in bidding to host in 2035 or 2039.
Spain played at Rugby World Cup 1999 and qualified for Rugby World Cup 2023 but was disqualified from the latter. Spain as a rugby market is growing and is demonstrably a prepared market for locals and visiting supporters. Spain hosted Argentina in August 2023 in Madrid. Barcelona hosted the Top 14 Final in front of a world record attendance. San Sebastián has hosted Top 14 and Champions Cup matches while Bilbao hosted a Champions Cup Final.
Spain is the 14th largest economy in the world. Madrid and Barcelona are major airports that are very well connected to intercontinental destinations. The Spanish language is thriving in Rugby World Cups with Argentina, Uruguay and Chile involved at France 2023.
