World Rugby is planning to raise US interest in Rugby World Cup 2031 and plan to lead the final series to New York City in 2030.
Australia’s Brett Robinson, president of World Rugby, revealed his thoughts in Sydney on Monday.
But the 2031 Men’s Event is not only desperate to break into the lucrative US market for rugby around the world, but it is fully aware of what it takes to make it happen.
Part of that is to promote dramatic improvements for male national teams that may still be pushed into Super Rugby Pacific, but brings the sport to a broader American market where they barely notice the huge global profile of the game.
The staging of the final series of the Nations Championship, first contested in 2026, brings top-level rugby to one of the nation’s most iconic cities, building a marker of what Americans can expect when 24 countries ravade the states 12 months later.
“From my perspective, it is locked down our commitment to the US. I’m just coming from LA, I’ve just come from meetings with the US Federation and I’ll make recommendations for 31 and 33 (Women’s World Cup) to Council next week.
“So how do you line up the major countries that have products in the US ahead of the 31? How do you ensure that the Chicago All Blackstest Match (playing Ireland) will not be a one-time second half of this year, but will build an event programme with all the major unions to raise their profiles?
“How will you tackle the 2030 Nations Championship Final Series in New York?
“They are the kind of conversation we need to work with major unions to mess up our direction over the next six months.”
Although the plans appear to be very many early stages, World Rugby has several different options in terms of stadia that can be used for displays in New York City.
New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, has a capacity of 82,500 people, but is usually an Astroturf surface. However, while the FIFA World Cup match will be played in Grass at the venue in 2026, the dimensions could be a little tight, the fact that the NRL has played the game at Allegianto Stadium in Las Vegas over the past two years shows how compromises will compromise.
Another option is the grass field of Major League Soccer Club’s New York Red Bulls, but the stadium has a capacity of 25,000 in New Jersey, making it a much smaller venue than MetLife Stadium.
World Rugby is only where the First Nations Championship Final Series takes place, with London previously in the box seat. However, recently, the temptation of big paydays in the Middle East has generated reports that world rugby may be considering switching to either Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
Saudi Arabia recently gained interest in staging the Rugby World Cup, perhaps in partnership with other Gulf countries, but World Rugby is hoping to see first how successful it will be by breaking new ground in the US.
The majority of this is having a competitive Eagle Steam. This could reach at least 16 rounds. With the failure to qualify for France in 2023, the scope of challenges in front of US rugby and the wider perspective of World Rugby, the game’s global stewards are working on solutions in the background.
The team did not win in 2025 when it entered major legislative gugby via North Carolina-based national franchise anthem rugby.
“From our perspective, it’s separate, that really made the Rugby World Cup a reality in the US and that the national team is competitive, but there’s a connection,” he said.
“And like I said, we are certainly really excited about the 15 women and the Sevens team doing globally.
“We met with the U.S. Board of Directors on Monday and they would agree that there is more to be done about how to lift the standards for their men’s team.
“It’s true that MLR plays a role. The anthem teams play a role, but if there’s an opportunity in Super Rugby, that’s a competition we own and don’t control, and that’s in the hands of New Zealand and Australia.
“But World Rugby is on record as it seeks to build and develop international capabilities and capabilities.
“(Phisian) Drua is a great story. Rugby Australia and World Rugby, he invested in the NRC for three years and was promoted to Drua, playing in Super Rugby. It’s open to that conversation.”