World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin speaks on the United States hosting the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
The United States will host the 2031 men’s Rugby World Cup, despite growing concerns about the sport’s strength in the country, according to World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin.
Gilpin said the decision, approved by the World Rugby Council in May 2022, is final. “It’s set in stone,” he told reporters after the annual Shape of the Game summit. “That’s not to say we don’t contingency plan, we contingency plan for everything as you’d expect.”
The US national team, the Eagles, are ranked 16th in the world. They have never reached the knockout stage of a World Cup and suffered an 85-0 defeat by Scotland national rugby union team in November. Domestically, Major League Rugby has reduced to six teams after four clubs withdrew, raising questions about the sport’s commercial future.
READ ALSO
- USA Confirmed For 2031 Rugby World Cup, Says World Rugby
- Morocco Captain Achraf Hakimi Denies Rape Claim Ahead of Trial
- Nigeria Kicks Off First National Boxing Week, Commonwealth Games Trials
Some British media reports have questioned how the US will deliver the tournament at a commercial level. But Gilpin said there is strong interest from host cities and state sports commissions. “We’ve got an enormous number of host cities… really excited about it and there’s fantastic engagement across the US,” he added.
The United States will also stage the women’s Rugby World Cup in 2033.
Meanwhile, concerns from the French Rugby Federation and France’s Top 14 league about possible law changes were dismissed. Critics fear scrums and line-outs could be weakened to simplify the game.
World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson said no such proposal was discussed. “In no way were there any discussions about the de-powering of the scrum,” he said. He added that reducing repeated scrum resets — which frustrate fans and slow momentum — was the main focus.
About the Author
