Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WORLD Rugby is open to taking the men’s Rugby World Cup back to Africa in 2035, but no country from the continent has expressed interest in hosting the tournament.
South Africa staged Africa’s only edition in 1995.
Australia will host the men’s tournament in 2027 and the women’s edition in 2029, while the US will stage the men’s World Cup in 2031 and the women’s competition in 2033.
World Rugby chair Brett Robinson said Africa remained welcome to enter the race for the 2035 tournament.
“At this stage, we have committed to a Rugby World Cup in Australia, for men and for women,” Robinson said.
“However, we are open to another World Cup event coming back to Africa. It just comes down to countries putting their hands up and saying that they want to do it, and that they are able to deliver the event in a way that is cost-effective and also generates the revenue for World Rugby.
“No African nation has come up and said that they are putting their hands up, but they are more than welcome to.”
Robinson said any bid would have to demonstrate that the tournament could grow the sport while generating enough revenue to fund World Rugby’s programmes.
“I guess the important piece to understand in hosting a Rugby World Cup is that it is not just about the growth of the game, but that the event also generates just about all of the revenue that then goes back into the sport.
“It’s a big decision for a country to take, and it also has to be backed by strong economics so that we make sure that the event is a financial success, because we rely on that money,” he said.
