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World Rugby has recommended a postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021. The news came on Tuesday of their preference to delay the tournament for one year, with a final decision to be made in one week’s time. Ratification by the Rugby World Cup Board and the World Rugby Executive Committee is required though it now seems a formality.
It’s a bitter blow for the sport with New Zealand preparing to host what it hoped would be the most successful Women’s World Cup to date. With three teams still to qualify, however, the timelines presented could not have been accomplished in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
Interim World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin released a statement alongside the announcement:
“We appreciate that the decision to recommend the postponement of Rugby World Cup 2021 will be hugely disappointing for players and fans alike. We really believe that it is the right recommendation taking into account the best interests of the players and fans. Certainly this decision has players at heart.
“In recent weeks through discussions with our key partners in New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Government, it’s become clear that we do not have the level of certainty we need to be able to collectively deliver the best environment for all teams to be at their best.
“Rugby World Cup 2021 is the pinnacle of women’s rugby and we’re committed to providing the best conditions for the players and teams to prepare fully and to compete at their best in the tournament. Postponing the tournament until next year provides the best opportunity to do that.”
While the delay is disappointing, it does solve a clash already created by the pandemic with those players involved in Olympic preparation now free to concentrate on the seven-a-side game before switching gears to the full version a year ahead of the World Cup. It will also be something of a relief for players spread across the globe who have been unable to compete at club level for many months.
In the meantime teams will now be scrambling to secure end-of-year test matches to replace the tournament. Those too will be difficult to arrange given the ongoing uncertainty of international travel and uneven global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
