Reports in England suggest that Australia are ready to throw their hat into the ring to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
France will host the next event in 2023, but the following two tournaments are up for grabs. It is likely that the 2027 edition could be heading south, especially after three World Cups in the northern hemisphere.
The success of the flagship tournament in Japan has made hosting the tournament in the USA for the first time an attractive proposition. Rugby has started to grow in the country with the success of their sevens team and the introduction of Major League Rugby, the continent’s first professional domestic competition.
However, the BBC reports that the USA would likely only host the World Cup in 2031 and that Australia are preparing a bid to host the tournament for the first time since 2003.
‘You would think 2027 would need to go somewhere southern hemisphere,’ English Rugby union chief executive Bill Sweeney told the BBC.
‘Australia is a really important rugby nation, who have had some financial challenges. Anything that World Rugby can do to support the game in Australia would be supported by all of us, I think.’
Rugby Australia has been through a tumultuous year, starting with the sacking of star player Israel Folau for a homophobic social media post and ending with a quarter-final exit at this year’s World Cup and subsequent resignation of coach Michael Cheika.
South Africa have also been linked to hosting the 2027 edition of the tournament. SA Rugby president Mark Alexander admitted they are exploring the notion, but would first have to consider the financial implications.
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