World Rugby Unveils Strategic Plan To Grow The Sport

World Rugby has unveiled a new strategic plan which aims to support the sport’s growth up to 2025.

The ‘A Global Sport for All – True to its Values’ plan aims to ‘support and enhance the game’ while recognising the ‘challenges facing society and sport’ as a result of the pandemic. It will also tackle the ‘three Cs’ of ‘Covid, Calendar and Concussion’, according to CEO Alan Gilpin.

Four key areas of ‘competition, participation, engagement and the game itself’, will be addressed by the plan, as well as growing areas such as the women’s game, and grassroots participation, as well as focusing on player welfare (which will be a key factor in a review of its calendar), sustainability (where it will publish a Sustainability Charter), and pandemic recovery.

The plan will also look to ‘advance and unify the men’s international fifteens and sevens calendars’ as well as develop a ‘more compelling competition structure and unified approach to test rugby within the July and November windows’. World Rugby also says it will look to launch new men’s and women’s emerging nations competitions by 2022 as well as revamping the ‘sevens rugby ecosystem’.

“The ambitious Strategic Plan 2021-25, recognises the current challenges and sets out a long-term roadmap to support and develop rugby around the globe,” said Sir Bill Beaumont, Chair, World Rugby.

“It will focus and guide us as we work to ensure the game is as enjoyable, accessible, appealing and safe as possible, with player welfare remaining our number one priority. 

“This is not just a plan for World Rugby, it is a plan for the whole rugby family that has embraced input from across the rugby community, from unions and regions to partners and stakeholders. Everyone has a role to play, whether they be a player, parent, fan, volunteer, coach or administrator, and we look forward to driving the sport forward together.”

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin added: “As an organisation, a sport and a family, this plan will guide how we tackle the three Cs of Covid, calendar and concussion, and build the foundations for a safer, stronger and more sustainable game for all. We will focus on advancing player welfare and international competitiveness, increase participation, grow revenues and deepen fan engagement.”

“In delivering this plan, we will work in full partnership with our unions, regional associations and partners and look to tap into the expertise across the rugby family and beyond, as well as listening to our fans. We will further enhance our governance and decision-making structures and, importantly, our strong values, which we know are central to our sport’s appeal, will remain at the heart of all we do.”