England named Preferred Candidate for Rugby World Cup 2025
The World Rugby Council has approved revisions to the Rugby World Cup host selection process, awarding exclusive Preferred Candidate status to England for Rugby World Cup 2025.
The Preferred Candidate process will introduce a new philosophy for invited potential hosts to present a flexible approach with hosting proposals that best fit their sporting, economic, social and environmental planning needs rather than trying to fit the local context to a set Rugby World Cup hosting model.
The ultimate goal is to create a delivery model that maximises financial and operational efficiencies, while unlocking greater value for hosts and global rugby development, with a strong emphasis on building sustainable relationships with host countries and broadening fan and commercial appeal.
"We are delighted to have been awarded Preferred Candidate status for Rugby World Cup 2025," said RFU CEO Bill Sweeney. "Hosting it will be incredible, our ambition is to stage the best attended women’s Rugby World Cup ever, with nationwide qualifiers and a sellout final at Twickenham Stadium. We are looking forward to working with World Rugby and Government to make this happen. We will now focus all our bidding efforts on securing these games.
"Women’s rugby is growing exponentially and securing RWC 2025 will significantly support our aggressive growth targets for the women’s game while further advancing all women’s sport. In addition, Rugby World Cup will deliver significant economic and legacy returns for the whole country."
The new Rugby World Cup model will see World Rugby take more direct responsibility for the delivery of the pinnacle events. The awarding of Preferred Candidate status follows extensive dialogue with interested nations over the last year.
It comes with the full support of the respective unions and key financial commitments from their governments and will enable the sport to move forward with a clear 10-year roadmap. Final hosting rights will be awarded by Council in May 2022.
World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont added: "The new approach to electing Rugby World Cup hosts is more flexible and collaborative, with World Rugby working with potential hosts to optimise their Rugby World Cup proposals and align them with long-term social and economic development plans for the benefit of their communities and the future expansion of the sport."
