Brett Gosper said that RWC expansion is "a question of when rather than if."GETTY IMAGES
Next year's Rugby World Cup in Japan "could be the last to feature 20 teams," as World Rugby "looks to expand its horizons and reach out into new territories," according to Mick Cleary of the London TELEGRAPH. Rugby is "minded to follow football's lead" by increasing the number of competing sides at its showpiece event. It "could happen as early as France 2023, but almost certainly four years later." If money and power are considered contributing factors to football's decision to add 16 teams to its roster for '26, rugby's stated intention is "to be more inclusive by opening up to emerging nations." One of the criticisms leveled at the sport is that it "has been a closed shop made up of the old-boy founder members." World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said, "We're looking from an expansive point of view rather than reducing things, so it's just a question of when rather than if. We haven't opined yet on 2023 [although the assumption is 20 teams], but we could still change that between now and 2023" (TELEGRAPH, 9/10). In London, Duncan Bech reported Hong Kong, Germany, Kenya and the Cook Islands are "among the sides who might benefit from any enlargement," but Gosper is "aware of an important balance that must be struck." He said, "We want to make sure the teams are competitive enough to move to a 24-team tournament." Strengthening the expansionist cause would be "the less established teams surpassing expectations at Japan 2019." Gosper: "If those teams had a good tournament it would give courage and impetus to change" (INDEPENDENT, 9/11).
