The World Rugby Council on Tuesday approved recommendations by its World Cup Board for a more transparent process of selecting hosts for future men¡¯s and women¡¯s editions of the tournament, including an open electronic vote with results published.
The sport¡¯s global body said that after an interim meeting, it was decided that awarding hosting rights for the women¡¯s 2025 and 2029 editions and men¡¯s 2027 and 2031 editions would be through a vote following a risk-based technical evaluation.
Previously, World Rugby could make its recommendations to the council members before hosting rights are awarded.
¡°These decisions reflect best-practice in major sports event host selection and will ensure Rugby World Cup is accessible and attractive to a wide range of potential hosts,¡± World Rugby said in a statement.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said that the new process was part of plans to bring about positive changes in his second term as head of the body.
¡°I have strived to implement key governance enhancements that inject further transparency, clarity and consistency into our decision-making processes,¡± Beaumont added.
¡°Rugby World Cup is at the centre of that strategy as our flagship men¡¯s and women¡¯s event and major driver of revenue.
¡°The decision... will ensure we¡¯re able to advance with a world-class host selection process that will deliver a robust 10-year growth strategy... as we collectively look to rebound from the pandemic and optimise revenue certainty for reinvestment in the sport at all levels.¡±
France will host the men¡¯s World Cup in 2023, while New Zealand will stage the women¡¯s event next year.
The process for selecting the next hosts will begin in February 2021 and conclude in May 2022.
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