Rugby Australia faces rival bid from USA to host 2027 World Cup

After yesterday’s game against the all blacks the only reason WR would give the World Cup in 2027 to USA is purely financial. What an embarrassing cup it would be if the hosts get destroyed like this more than once.

Grass roots participation may be arguable, mostly in the colleges. But they had no professional league at all after the NASL collapsed in the mid 80's. The MSL kicked off in 1996 entirely on the back of the impetus generated by the World Cup, not the other way around.

Yes, PCT, I'm an older bloke. Sorry for the delay in responding. It's highly likely that we were at that game on the same day. I actually had no money. So I scaled the fence from the Victoria Park golf club side. Rickety stand? It was an awful set up for spectators. I'd love someone to tell me if there's any truth to this. But that Gilchrist Avenue field was supposed to have been made by shredding up old cross-ply car tires and mixing the rubber with the grass seed and topsoil. This was meant to produce a good wearing surface. The significance is that the same technique was supposed to have been used on the number 1 field at Ballymore. Mind you, there's historically worse stuff under that field. And it's worse than Lang Park having once been a cemetery.

Understand your point Andy but FIFA had a lot more to work with before their World Cup. Way bigger grass roots participation and a far more established professional league. I'm all for the RWC going to the USA, but there has to be some kind of solid foundation in place first.

Had FIFA thought the same way though, have to wonder whether the MLS would be worth a billion euros a year...

This is a great opportunity from the USA, The problem with the the voices steaming out of Australia and NZ are about the most ignorant and uneducated on Tier 2/3 rugby scene. Yet again another T1 Country are hosting RWC when they have hosted it several times. World Rugby unlike FIFA are not making a concerted effort to expand the Host base. it feels Japan is going to become an anomaly. Take for instance the Women's 2025 world cup England and France are rival bids and it seems no one else. In my opinion they are sensible hosts given the degree of professionalisation, But, it's incredibly cynical to talk about 'seismic changes', 'legacy' or a women's being a growing game when the two known bids come from hosts from the last 15 years (who on top of that did host men's RWC as well and have permanent big tournaments on their soil). I have no doubt that they will deliver good crowds and promotion but it doesn't back all what is sold about women's rugby. It's sad that not a single country outside its core audience is considering a bid.

Possibly on Amazon Prime, but I have a sinking feeling that won't be Australia. Maybe on Optus and Fetch which my son has to watch soccer, will check.

Rugby will be huge there, it fills the gap. NRL have seen it but they can't access it. Americans like rugby league and it is simple to follow. The world reach of union just kills the NRL plus the wide variety of athletic types. China and Russia then follow suit, even though they are both already heavily committed. Another reason why RA needs to get its s*&t together ASAP. If we can stay near the top while rugby becomes undisputed number 2 sport in the world we have a chance of staying there.

It will always be a small niche code in the US, the same way it is in Australia.

Bang on, mate. Helping a developing country is not the same thing as entrusting them with the game's showpiece event. By all means put them in the frame for 2031 now, but give them some metrics and guidelines to work with over the next 2-3 years, and then if things are looking more solid, they can get the green light then. Having it in the US would be fantastic - for a lot of reasons - but they need to present a far more compelling case than what they can do right at the moment.

Good for the code if the USA won the bid I expect. Any benefit from re hosting the WC here will be short lived since the code can't really improve on its status in this country whereas the opposite is so in the US. If the code were to take off significantly as a result, NZ dominance will be well and truly snuffed out.

Never a better time, on a nice day having a Vodka or 10. :stoked:

JN, "You inadvertantly make an argument to host it in The USA" No he doesn't. Development of the game is a much different thing from having the organisation, administration, governance and resources to stage an event such as this. Once those things are in place and the USA National teams, Men & Women, are showing an upward trajectory and there is good grassroots growth hosting the event would be hugely beneficial and with much less risk. 100% behind that. I think Geoff clearly makes the argument why they shouldn't get it. Cheers

USA must host a World Cup at some stage, sooner rather than later, and if they can get the NFL, Hollywood and every other big bastard on side, it could be something epic! Once their free enterprise imagination starts to run wild, who knows what kind of a spectacle they could put on? Elon could host the Wallabies in space, the AB's could to Disneyland! Imagine that! The Poms could ....... etc etc.

I’d like to see it in the states, it would be a great spectacle and help create new interest in the game, with new fans.

So far so good. Touch wood, I have dodged them for 20 years

After the ‘91 WC, I remember talking with Anthony Herbert. The WBs carried a sign with the names of their 90 odd sponsors. An American player looked at the board and said, “So that’s what it’s like to be a super power.” Two questions. 1. Can we still consider ourselves to be a super power in Rugby? ( I like to think we’re getting back there.) 2. How far have the US progressed in the last 30 years and would they need 6 or 10 more years to produce a team capable of going further than the pool stage? Nobody likes to see the host nation knocked out at the end of the pool stage.

Howzit Geoff,... You inadvertantly make an argument to host it in The USA.. Cannot develop the game much further in countries where its already so well established.... One thing saying lets not host it in Zimbabwe, but the potential of the USA is worth the effort surely..

Is there a better time? :happy:

Oh and excepting of course that we have a Shitty record inAus... USA! USA! USA!