ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

World Cup Hosts Announced For 2031 & 2033 Tournaments

BY Philip Bendon  ·  Thursday May 12, 2022

The United States have been named as hosts for the Men’s 2031 and Women’s 2033 Rugby World Cups in what is a landslide moment for the international game.

ADVERTISEMENT

Backed fully by both American politicians and Rugby governors, this will be the first time that the men’s game will host a World Cup in either North or South America.

Lending his assurances, President Joe Biden sent a letter to World Rugby offered governmental assurances that the United States bid would be fully backed with the necessary resources.

“On behalf of the people of the United States, I am pleased to offer my wholehearted support of this bid,” Biden wrote.

Hailed as a watershed moment for the game in the US, World Rugby will be hoping that its finest showpiece could finally untap the potential of the significant American audience.

For its part the US is no stranger to hosting international sporting events. Prior to Rugby’s touchdown in 2031, America will be playing host to the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028.

Whilst hosting the World Cup is a huge step in the right direction for USA Rugby, the continued development of the Major League Rugby competition must remain a priority.

ADVERTISEMENT

The competition has continued to go from strength-to-strength over the past five years and has really begun to attract global superstars who are looking for a new challenge.

One of these stars has been former England captain Chris Robshaw, who lent his support by the US’s bid to host the tournament.

“We are looking for new audiences for rugby, because the sport has got to a level, in England, in South Africa, in France, in Australia, in New Zealand where you are asking, are you going to attract more fans that don’t already watch it now? Going somewhere relatively new – the MLR has only been going five years – the backing of the World Cup in schools and universities here would be huge.” He said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking about American’s ability to promote sport on a commercial level, Robshaw believes that the sport has plenty of scope for development but needs to remain realistic.

“The Americans in general view sport differently: they know how to sell stuff; they know how to promote it. I took our little boy to the park the other day, and out of probably 50 people, myself included, we all had hats or merchandise or bumper stickers of the Padres, the San Diego baseball team. Will rugby in this country ever be like an NFL or an NBA – I’m not sure. But it could be like an MLS [Major League Soccer], which gets 15,000 to 20,000 to games and is a fantastic product.”

Lending his weight to Robshaw’s thoughts on the MLR and US Rugby as a whole, MLR commissioner George Killebrew said. “The MLR is a professional league that has 13 teams – 12 in the United States, one in Toronto, Canada. If you look at this nine-year runway to a 2031 World Cup, if we have one or two new teams a year, we will be a 28-team league in all the metropolitan areas in this country.”

Killebrew continued to explain that the game itself is continually growing at such a rate that the US will be ready to be competitive by the time 2031 comes around. “With more kids starting to play the game, the academy programmes and our collegiate properties continuing to grow, by the time World Cup arrives, MLR will have done its job in seeding the United States and getting us ready,” he said.

Related Articles

  • 45 WEEKS AGO

    'A really poor imitation' - Shane Horgan...

  • 47 WEEKS AGO

    Top referee calls time on career following...

  • 50 WEEKS AGO

    2023 Men's Rugby World XV of the Year - The...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Supporters can't believe Saracens Sharp's UNBELIEVABLE finish

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Outlandish Jacob Stockdale finish is truly world class

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Ulster denied THE GREATEST URC try you will ever see!

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Capuozzo break sets Dupont up for hatrick on return

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Wallabies wunderkind Sua'ali' and Scotland captain Tuipulotu clash

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Supporters can't believe Saracens Sharp's UNBELIEVABLE finish

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Insane moment as french backrow waves off medic and smokes Ange Capuozzo

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster fly half delivers insane 50:22 after being given start for Emerging Ireland

View All

Funnies

  • 6 HOURS AGO

    U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major makes big claim about rugby

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Mischievous Marcus Smith spotted engaging in the dark arts during All Blacks match

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Jonny Sexton: 'Fondest memory of the Heineken Cup in 2011?' - 'Gordon D'Arcy's bar' and 'Coppers'

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Mike Haley's post match interaction with RG Snyman leaves no doubt about where Munster players stand

View All

Amateur

  • 100 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 100 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 123 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 123 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 124 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 9 HOURS AGO

    Marcus Smith makes big call on his future

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    The 19-year-old named the 'future' of English rugby after win against Australia A

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Anthony Watson exclusive: 'I wouldn't be surprised if England win'

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    It’s a 9.5/10 for Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i

View All