Next 2 Rwc Hosts To Be Named Together

The International Rugby Board is to allocate the host nations for the 2015 and 2019 World Cups at the same time with a decision due in twelve months time.

The IRB will begin the tender process for the two tournaments later this month with a letter to be sent to Member Unions inviting expressions of interest in hosting the tournaments.

Commented IRB and Rugby World Cup Ltd chairman Bernard Lapasset: ‘RWC 2007 had an economic impact of around £2.5bn in France. Governments and host nations benefit hugely from staging a Rugby World Cup and we are looking forward to the continued close involvement of governments in future tournaments.

‘The IRB believes that awarding two tournaments together will provide a better timeframe for tournament planning and provide longer term certainty for hosts and commercial partners.

‘As the revenue generation is vital to our ongoing development plans we recognise that Rugby World Cup has to be held in one of our senior core markets on a regular basis. However, the commercial success of the tournament also means we can now consider placing the tournament in new developing markets to assist the Game’s strategic growth. It is all about finding the right mix.’

Key elements of the new process include interested unions being able to tender to host either tournament or just one of the two tournaments in 2015 and 2019. The Rugby World Cup Board will drive the process and make a recommendation to Council on the host union for 2015 and 2019 following the detailed tender process.

New Zealand has already been named as the host nation for the next Rugby World Cup in 2011.