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The next two World Cup hosts might have been absolutely nailed on even before being confirmed this week but they’re far from safe bets for World Rugby.
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Given the trajectory of the sport in Japan and its economy, that always looked like a good fit and other recent hosts New Zealand, England and France speak for themselves but it isn’t completely clear cut with Australia and the USA.
They have been the only candidates on the table for a while now, with exclusive discussions going on in recent weeks, and there’s a lot to be positive when it comes to both but there is also a lot of work to be done.
Australia badly need the World Cup in 2027 given the background of financial problems and plummeting participation figures. There have been some encouraging signs on the pitch of late and it could help inspire the next generation of players and fans in the country.
Then there is the USA, the great white hope in rugby it seems. We have been talking about the sport taking off there for quite a while now, without perhaps the results that everyone would have liked, and this has to be the shot in the arm it needs to do so.
It’s certainly an exciting choice for the 2031 World Cup but the domestic league in the USA, the MLR in its current guise, has been through plenty of ups and downs and attendances aren’t high at all.
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World Rugby will have to be astute when it comes to selecting the host cities and stadia for the tournament because we can’t have modest crowds rattling around in enormous grounds but the country’s ability to put on a show isn’t in doubt.
It has also been mentioned that the tournament might have to be moved to the summer over here in the UK so that will bring with it a number of logistical concerns but it does make sense to not have it clash with the behemoth that is the NFL.
Given the next two tournaments will be hosted by established rugby nations in France and Australia, it’s great to see the 2031 edition being taken to another emerging market and the USA was always the obvious choice but we need to see a lot of investment from World Rugby there over the course of the next nine years.
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There have been some dissenting voices from South Africa as it will now be at least 40 years between them hosting tournaments and they controversially lost out to France for 2023 after being named the preferred bid by the RWC board.
However, the SARU pulled out of the running to host the 2027 World Cup, with Argentina also withdrawing back in 2020 and Russia was patently never going to be an option.
Perhaps economic factors and safety concerns count against South Africa and the SARU didn’t think they’d be in with a shout this time around but it would be an obvious choice in 2035, four decades after they lifted the trophy on home soil in one of the most iconic moments in any sport.
The announcement of another couple of Rugby World Cup hosts has coincided with the so-called Nations Championship being discussed by unions again this week and there has been criticism from some quarters that it could devalue the World Cup but I don’t see it.
There are certainly legitimate concerns that it might not be all it’s cracked up to be in terms of the less established rugby nations and those need addressing but all the Nations Championship would do is make the current July and November internationals a bit more meaningful.
Even if there is a final pitting the best in the northern and southern hemispheres against one another, it really wouldn’t rival a World Cup and the concept could be an important and much-needed revenue generator for the sport.
Football have introduced a similar thing in the UEFA Nations League, which seems to have been well received, and I can’t see an issue with rugby following suit.
Money is, of course, all-important in the Nations Championship and World Cup hosting decisions and we can only hope that a new generation of Australians and a host of Americans will be inspired to get involved in the sport in the process.
This week’s World Cup hosting announcements are about as far as you can get from the controversy when France were awarded the 2023 event back in 2017 but, whereas that was a safe bet, there is a long and winding road ahead for World Rugby with Australia and USA.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments