World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin admits that the big American sports will have to be considered when it comes to kicking off the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031.
Rugby union is hoping to grow the game by hosting its biggest competition in North America in seven years’ time.
However, the usual September start clashes with the early stages of the American football season, the biggest sport in the US.
In fact, the 2023 World Cup in France began on the same weekend as the NFL and, if repeated, could lessen the interest in the global tournament.
Gilpin insists that they have no desire to move it to a completely different time of the year, but does admit that World Rugby will have to think about when is best for the competition to start.
‘Some flex in that’
“We’re working on the assumption that the Rugby World Cup in 2031 will be a version of its traditional window which is September/October,” Gilpin told the U.S. Sun.
“There is obviously some flex in that – in Australia in the next edition I think we’re two weeks earlier (editor’s note: it’s later) as a start than we were in France.
“There is a bit of movement within our traditional window and we have some work to do with the college football and NFL environment in terms of how that can work best in 2031.
“That will definitely play a part in venue selection and the engagement of cities and venue owners.”
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As already intimated, another consideration is the venues, which could see World Rugby use MLS stadiums, as well as grounds from the NFL or college football.
“It’s going to be finding that mix,” Gilpin said.
“We were just over 50,000 per match average in France across the whole tournament and I think we’ll be somewhere similar to that for 2031.”
The governing body are also discussing the amount of cities they will use for the World Cup. With the USA being a vast country, they will have to think carefully about how to schedule the pool stages.
Lots to organise
“We’re traditionally in 10 or 11 for a men’s World Cup but again we’re expanding to 24 teams but it probably lends itself in a huge geography and market like the US to slightly more venues for the men’s edition,” Gilpin said.
“But nothing is setting in stone on that. It will be about the right mix of venues in terms of size, the right geographies and finding the right facilities that have team camps and bases available.
“We’re going to need 60-plus team bases for a 24-team tournament so there’s a lot to do in that regard.
“There will be some unbelievable destinations for sports fans, whether it’s Vegas or Miami and more traditional destinations such as LA, New York and Dallas.
“There’s a lot of excitement and there’s a lot of work to do.”
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Source link : https://www.planetrugby.com/news/world-rugby-chief-hints-at-change-within-traditional-rugby-world-cup-start-time
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Publish date : 2024-07-22 16:31:47
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