USA Rugby Still Eyeing '27 World Cup Despite Financial Woes

USA Rugby is seeking to "get back on its feet" after filing for bankruptcy during the ongoing pandemic, and the NGB "retains a vision" of bidding for the '27 Rugby World Cup, according to Steve Douglas of the AP. The U.S. "holds a special status in the eyes of rugby's governing body, World Rugby," as Americans "retain a vital place in global rugby because of the untapped potential they possess, in both a commercial and sporting sense." World Rugby is "desperate to see the United States become a rugby superpower." USA Rugby CEO Ross Young said that World Rugby "immediately jumped in and helped fund the bankruptcy process when his organization 'imploded' -- as he described it - when the pandemic struck." The hosts of the '27 and '31 men's World Cups will be announced at the same time, a decision that will "most likely be pushed back" to '22. USA Rugby Chair Bob Latham said that World Rugby "may decide to choose one host for its commercial return and another for 'potential growth of the game'" (AP, 6/2).