Get Newsletter

America set sights on 2027 World Cup bid

Wednesday marks the 100-day countdown to the seventh edition of rugby's four-yearly sevens spectacular, which will be staged at San Francisco's iconic AT&T Park baseball stadium from July 20-22.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gosper told AFP in an interview that ticket sales for the three-day event had already reached the 60 000 level, and World Rugby is anticipating a sell-out for the opening day.

The tournament is being staged as rugby enjoys a surge in popularity in the United States, buoyed by the success of the men's sevens team and greater exposure of the sport than ever before.

Recent research commissioned by World Rugby found there were an estimated 33 million rugby fans in the United States who described themselves as either very interested or interested in the sport.

Gosper believes July's tournament in California can be a "game-changer" for rugby in the United States.

"It's something that can ignite the sport in the US," he told AFP. "We know there is latent support for rugby in the United States.

"So seeing rugby almost normalised in an American context, in an iconic American stadium, with free-to-air coverage, I think will be quite a game-changer for the sport.

ADVERTISEMENT

"We're realistic. It's only three days. And you can't change the world in three days. But you can light something and create a detonator for greater things later. It will give people more confidence to host more events in America,"

That something could conceivably be a bid for rugby's greatest tournament, the World Cup.

The next edition of the tournament will take place in Japan in 2019, with France hosting the 2023 event.

Gosper believes that an American bid for 2027 is by no means outside the realms of possibility.

ADVERTISEMENT

"There is a general belief across the people running the sport that America's time will come, probably sooner rather than later," Gosper said.

"We know that we've got a World Cup in Japan in 2019, we're going to France in 2023. Is 2027 a possibility? I don't think that's out of the question.

"They'll have to go some to get there. But there's no reason why they shouldn't be candidates in 2027,"

A successful World Cup in Japan next year – the first time the tournament has been staged outside of its traditional markets – could give a powerful jolt of momentum for an American bid, Gosper said.

"A big success in a country like Japan would be noticed by other non-traditional markets," Gosper said. "It would be hugely inspiring for other tier-two markets, like the United States, to attempt a similar undertaking."

Meanwhile, Gosper said the format used at this year's World Cup Sevens – a straight knockout competition featuring 24 teams which was designed with an American audience in mind – could eventually be introduced across World Rugby's Sevens Circuit.

"Each game counts, which we know is something more interesting for the Americans," Gosper said. "I wouldn't call it a trial but it's likely that this format moves into the general Sevens series in the next cycle.

"We think it's a really attractive format which was kind of designed for the American public. The more we look at it we think it could have merit in our general series,"

Agence France-Presse

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment