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It is official: the process is underway for the USA’s bid to host RWC 2031. The national governing body, USA Rugby, announced the formation of a speciality group of American rugby stakeholders to conduct a feasibility study.
It will investigate the capability of hosting a Rugby World Cup in the USA. Of note is that this is a USA-only project, not a North American co-hosting bid involving Canada.
The feasibility study will engage with USA Rugby in addition to stadium venues, sports commissions, city government objective criteria, technical requirements, financial considerations and commercial analysis.
The findings of the feasibility study will be presented to the USA Rugby Board ahead of a possible host bid. If the bid is finalized then it would be historic. It would represent a first ever Men’s Rugby World Cup bid from the USA and also the first of its kind from all of the Americas. The USA has previously hosted the Rugby Sevens World Cup as has Argentina. Canada is a previous host of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The study is to begin immediately. World Rugby recently announced the tender process which involves three phases. The Dialogue Phase for bids is February 2021. 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. The Valuation Phase will take place in February 2022 and the World Rugby Council will vote in May 2022.
USA Rugby has no financial obligation to the feasibility study.
