Yet sources say that the US strategy is likely to come under greater scrutiny by Abdel Benazzi, the former captain of France, who is also standing for the chair. The electioneering has led to pledges to cut costs at a time when national unions are struggling financially. Sceptics suggest that hosting the 2031 World Cup in an established market, such as the UK, would deliver a strong commercial return and timely pay day for the unions without any of the risk of the US drive.
The uncertainty over the direction the new chair will take the governing body in is only adding to these concerns.
Supporters of the US plan, however, point out that similar concerns were voiced ahead of Japan hosting the 2019 World Cup, and yet it delivered a surplus of £350 million and a lasting legacy, most notably in the financial strength of their domestic league, even if the national side is currently in a rebuilding phase.
With rugby’s global economy currently reliant on the UK and French markets to generate 60 per cent of the revenue, it is seen as critical to expand the sport into the US to ensure long-term growth beyond incremental growth of returning to an already saturated market.
US has similar playing population as UK
It is said that if rugby gains just one per cent of the sports rights market in the US, it would double rugby’s global economy, and there already exist rugby endowment funds in the University of California in Berkeley which are probably more financially significant than many unions.
The forecast return for the 2031 World Cup is a surplus of £800 million, compared to the £470 million generated in France and World Rugby plan to link countries with host cities in the build-up to the 2031 tournament, with the European sides likely to be based on the east coast, for example Scotland playing in Washington DC this summer, with the All Blacks likely to be based in the west coast where there is a significant Polynesian community. That is seen as critical not for just engaging with the local community but also providing long-term commercial and sponsorship opportunities.
With currently 800,000 players and 3,100 clubs in the US, which is a similar playing population as the UK, World Rugby has taken ownership of the MLR club Anthem Carolina with the view to creating a pathway for USA qualified players while 27 universities currently have a funded rugby programme.
The women’s game is also seen as having potential for major growth, following the US bronze medal in the Olympic sevens’ tournament which prompted businesswoman and investor Michele Kang to donate $4 million to the team’s programme, while their star player Ilona Maher has a huge social media presence and celebrity status in America. The US is due to host the women’s World Cup in 2033.
Still, even the moderate voices are calling for a renewed focus on the strategy. Simon Massie-Taylor, the Premiership Rugby chief executive, believes it is more that the next phase of the US growth plan should involve collaboration between the clubs and the international game.
Premiership hopes to stage matches in US
Premiership Rugby have just signed a three-year extension with Chicago-based US insurance company Gallagher, and there is an ambition to stage high-profile games in America in the next five years.
“It’s still early stages, but we want to be able to join things up so it’s not just the Prem strategy,” said Massie-Taylor. “It is to fit in generally with the roadmap in the building up to 2031 [the World Cup], and then afterwards, and what our role is within it?
“It’s helpful that we have a very good relationship with World Rugby and Gallagher have a financial interest in them as well. So we need to align those really. It is important that we have some presence there [in the US].
“When you look at future club investors, I think it would be great to have US sports franchise-style investors coming into the Premiership.”
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Publish date : 2024-09-17 03:44:00
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