Ireland could be in line to host key games in the Rugby World Cup of 2031. The news was revealed by the English RFU that discussions are taking place between the four unions of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales about putting forward a joint bid.
World Rugby opened the process for a double selection of hosts in 2027 and 2031 yesterday and a decision will be made on both hosts.
If it happens it will be quick. This ‘Dialogue’ Phase will run for three months and involve open engagement with countries on the expectations from the business and delivery model.
In May of this year, the ‘Candidate’ Phase kicks in where individual or joint bids will be built up ahead of submission in January of 2022.
That signals the start of the ‘Evaluation’ Phase where independent analysis of the bids against key criteria will be made before a decision at the World Rugby Council in May of 2022.
Australia and Argentina are expected to be the two leading contenders for 2027 with a straight choice for World Rugby of coming back to the Northern Hemisphere power base in 2031 or experimenting as with Japan in 2019 by selecting one of the USA or Russia who have both expressed an interest.
The wounds are still a bit raw from Ireland losing out to France in the bid to host in 2023, and the coming year will not be the easiest in which to secure major financial underwriting support from an Irish Government wrestling with the society and the economic impact of Covid but sometimes the best time to dive in is when hope and optimism are in the greatest need.
The IRFU would probably have preferred to stay under the radar a little longer with final negotiations on CVC Capital Partners investment in Six Nations Rugby and ongoing nervousness over the financial situation for the sport. But it’s out there now and while there will be nothing official required for a while yet, the clock is ticking.
Sport for Business Partners
