RUGBY AUSTRALIA WELCOMES NSW GOVERNMENT’S PLAN FOR 10 WORLD CUPS IN NEXT 10 YEARS

Jul 23 • General News, International, World Rugby • 2059 Views • Comments Off on RUGBY AUSTRALIA WELCOMES NSW GOVERNMENT’S PLAN FOR 10 WORLD CUPS IN NEXT 10 YEARS

Rugby Australia welcomes the NSW Government’s plan to bid for 10 World Cups in the next 10 years, as the bidding process for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup nears its conclusion and the organisation starts preparing its bid for the 2027 Rugby World Cup (Men’s).

Rugby Australia previously announced its intention to bid for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in December last year as well as the 2027 Rugby World Cup (Men’s).

Wallaroos players Grace Hamilton and Mahalia Murphy, along with Australian Rugby legend and World Cup winning captain John Eales AM joined NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for Sport Stuart Ayers and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall in Sydney today as they unveiled their plans to make NSW the sporting events hub of the Asia-Pacific region.

Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle said: “Today’s announcement by the Berejiklian Government is terrific news for our game and sports fans across Australia.

“We believe that Australian sports fans are the best in the world and deserve world class events in their backyard.

“The NSW Government’s commitment to make this a reality, is welcome news and a strong vote of confidence in our bids. The 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup and 2027 Rugby World Cup will provide a once-in-generation opportunity for the game, sports fans of all codes as well as deliver strong economic benefits and visitation for Australia.”

“We wouldn’t be in a position to mount competitive bids for these events in Australia without this type of Government support and access to world-class stadia, so we congratulate the NSW Government on its commitment to bring 10 World Cups to NSW over the next 10 years, as well as its vision to deliver new and improved stadiums in Sydney,” Castle said.

The bid for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup is currently being prepared ahead of its submission on 10 August.

The 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be ninth edition of the tournament, and potentially the first held in the southern hemisphere after it was first contested in 1991.

The Buildcorp Wallaroos finished sixth at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland, in a tournament that recorded significant growth in attendance as well as worldwide television audiences.

Australia last hosted the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2003, where the Wallabies fell to England in a dramatic Final in Sydney.

The 2003 Rugby World Cup injected almost $500 million into the Australian economy and led to a 20 per cent spike in junior Rugby registrations the following year.

The bid process for the 2027 Rugby World Cup is expected to open in 2019.