The United States will host the Rugby World Cup for the first time since voting to host the men’s tournament in 2031 and the women’s tournament two years later.
World Rugby has announced the host country for all 2025-33 World Cups after its council meeting in Dublin on Thursday, with Australia also hosting back-to-back tournaments in 2027 (male) and 2029 (female).
The sport is creating new ground by taking the men’s tournament – World Rugby’s most lucrative asset – to North America, with the Governing Body considering it an area of unnecessary potential, both commercial and sporting.
Watch every game of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific and Shoot Shield season, ad-free, live and on-demand streaming on Stan Sport only. Sign up for your free seven day trial!
Australia ready for Twin Rugby World Cup
The 2006 Women’s World Cup was played in Canada.
Ross Young, chief executive of USA Rugby, described the decision as “an exemplary catalyst for the growth of our sport, not just in the United States, but around the world.”
“USA Rugby will now enter a new era and ensure that the most valuable sporting event is a springboard to create lasting, enduring excitement and passion for rugby from coast to coast.”
Read more: Australia granted the rights to the 2027 and 2029 tournaments
Read more: Wallabis remembers Captain RWC’s humble start
Read more: Horror Miss Wallaroos costs at historic rugby rates
The two World Cups will cost around $ 730 million, with profit-loss sharing between world rugby and USA rugby.
More than 20 American cities are potential hosts for World Cup matches.
The bid was backed by the White House, with US President Joe Biden sending a letter to World Rugby last month giving official guarantees and support for “the development of rugby in the United States.”
The Men’s Rugby World Cup is considered the third largest sporting event in some parts of the world after the Football World Cup and the Summer Olympics.
The United States is hosting three events five years from 2026, starting with the Men’s Football World Cup that year – co-hosting Mexico and Canada – and then the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“The unparalleled growth that has been achieved by bringing the world’s third largest sporting event and the fastest growing women’s event to the world’s largest sports market cannot be overstated,” said USA Rugby.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge was lit up in green and gold after the announcement of World Rugby, which saw the return of the men’s tournament to Australia for the first time since 2003.
This is seen as an opportunity to revive rugby in the country as the World Cup comes after the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2025, bringing in the necessary revenue for its governing body – Rugby Australia – which was badly damaged by the epidemic.
Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos called it “the beginning of a new era for Australian rugby”.
“Australia will become the center of the rugby world in the next decade and it is incredibly exciting,” said Marinos.
The 2027 tournament will mark the 40th anniversary of Australia and New Zealand hosting the first Rugby World Cup in 1987.
For the first time, World Rugby is using a new partnership hosting model as part of a streamlined bid process.
Shawn Maloney and Andrew Mehertens review the latest round of Super Rugby Pacific, the first Wallaros game in almost three years, and talk to Noah Lolesio after his exciting re-signing with Australian Rugby.
Australia was already named the “preferred candidate” for the 2027 and 2029 tournaments when the United States entered into an “exclusive targeted dialogue” with World Rugby for the 2031 men’s tournament.
England was announced as the host of the 2025 Women’s World Cup. – Auxiliary printing press
To get a daily dose of the best breaking news and exclusive content from the Wide World of Sports, click here to subscribe to our newsletter!
