Image Credit: IRB
The Women’s Rugby World Cup is to have a foreshortened run to it’s next staging after this year’s tournament and settle into a new four year cycle from 2017 on. The number of competing teams is also to be capped at 12 to ensure the highest standard of play.
The International Rugby Board reaffirmed its commitment to growing the Women’s Rugby World Cup brand with the approval of a three-point plan which also includes a streamlined qualification process.
The approval of the plan by the IRB Council follows an extensive strategic review of Women’s Rugby World Cup by tournament owners Rugby World Cup Limited.
Key review considerations included tournament timing within the international Women’s Rugby calendar, the tournament delivery model, tournament format and the global qualification criteria with the objective of further boosting competition standards, global profile and fan engagement.
“Women’s Rugby is one of the world’s fastest growing team sports with an unprecedented 1.5 million women and girls participating across every continent,” said Rugby World Cup Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
“At the forefront of the phenomenal growth are our flagship women’s Fifteens and Sevens events and we are committed to ensuring that the Women’s Rugby World Cup is cemented as one of the prestige properties in women’s sport.”
Details of the qualification process and tender process for hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 and 2021 will be announced in the coming months.
Sport for Business has been involved in some initial informal talks about the prospect of Ireland looking to host the event, given the status of the Women’s game here, and the prospect of hosting the Men’s tournament in 2023.
The 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be held in France this August. Ireland has named a 33 strong squad for development and training ahead of the group games against reigning champions New Zealand, the USA and Kazakhstan.
Ireland finished 7th in the last Women’s Rugby World Cup in England in 2010.
