LONDON (Nov. 24, 2021) – The World Rugby Council today voted and approved the United States to enter into an exclusive Targeted Dialogue phase concerning Rugby World Cup 2031 in order to continue and accelerate planning for a U.S.-hosted Men’s Rugby World Cup.

“This is a very positive next step for the USA as we elevate exclusive discussions with World Rugby and our stakeholders around a successful campaign for Rugby World Cup 2031,” said USA Rugby Chief Executive, Ross Young, “The United States is an emerging rugby market primed with potential that we’re excited to unlock and strategically partner in the most effective way. With USA cities, commissions and stakeholders eager to support a USA-hosted Rugby World Cup, this Targeted Dialogue opens a new door for collaboration and progress, ultimately fueling an optimistic future for USA Rugby and the global game.

USA Rugby World Cup Bid Committee Chair, Jim Brown added, “Wonderful news coming out of the World Rugby Council meeting as our hosting concept continues to inspire positive momentum. I’m excited about the work ahead as we continue to finalize our plans and determine which host cities and stadiums that will be a part of this momentous opportunity to grow rugby in the United States and showcase the United States’ incredible sports infrastructure to the global rugby community.”

The World Rugby Council also voted to delay the awarding of the Women’s 2029 Rugby World Cup, enabling World Rugby, in full partnership with unions, to develop a hosting strategy that optimizes the implementation of the new WXV competition, due to commence in 2023.

Brown added, “Rugby World Cup 2029 is still very much in our sights and we remain confident that the United States has the platform to raise the bar for the Women’s tournament. We’re excited for the opportunity to showcase Americans’ strong support for women’s sports to a global audience and continue developing our bid for a successful event in 2029.”

With Rugby World Cup 2031 still ten years away, World Rugby and the United States’ Rugby World Cup bid team will work together to accelerate their positive, ongoing conversations as part of this Targeted Dialogue phase. Specifically, focus will now turn to short term operational funding and building a collaborative business model around the bid committee’s robust hosting concept.

World Rugby Chief Executive, Alan Gilpin added on the Targeted Dialogue phase, “What this is going to give us a really strong platform over the next six months to develop those conversations and get ourselves to a point where we’re really confident we can deliver with our partners outstanding Rugby World Cups. That 10-year plan is going to give us a fantastic platform for growth for the next decade, so it’s a really important move.”

With metropolitan areas from coast to coast committed to welcome global rugby fans, NFL-caliber stadiums around the country interested in hosting Rugby World Cup matches and an incredible national infrastructure for coordinating large-scale events, the United States is extremely prepared to unite fans old and new through rugby.

The bid includes some of the most state-of-art, massive, technologically advanced and luxurious sporting venues in the world – from iconic venues like the Rose Bowl to recent Super Bowl host venues like Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area. A projected 3.1 million fans could attend Men’s Rugby World Cup events in the U.S. across 48 matches.

Learn more about the USA Rugby World Cup bid at usabid.rugby

CONTACT: Calder Cahill (ccahill@usa.rugby); Liz Beadle (liz.beadle@fgh.com)