Rugby World Cups in 2027, 2029, chance to revitalise game in Australia, Alan Gilpin says

Rugby union needs a strong Australia and awarding the country back-to-back men's and women's World Cups in 2027 and 2029 would present a golden opportunity to revitalise the game Down Under, according to World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin.

Gilpin was speaking on Monday after the announcement Australia would be World Rugby's preferred candidate to host the 2029 Women's World Cup — a status it already enjoys for the 2027 men's tournament.

With the fifth Olympic sevens tournaments scheduled to take place at the Brisbane Games in 2032, Australia will have a lengthy period as the centre of the rugby world, offering a chance to arrest the decline of the past few years.

«Australia is a huge player on the international stage,» Gilpin told reporters in Sydney.

«We want Australian rugby to be strong, we want rugby here to be back to being a really strong sport for kids.

»This decade-long opportunity culminating in the Olympics is a massive chance for that."

Rugby Australia needed a $14 million loan from World Rugby last year after financial issues spiralled into a full-blown crisis because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rugby Australia terminated more than 40 per cent of staff at the start of the pandemic in 2020 — the culmination of a horror period in which former chief executive Raelene Castle left the organisation, it paid an out-of-court settlement to Israel Folau, and it faced a declining supporter base and allegations of mismanagement from former players.

The Wallabies, twice winners of the men's World Cup in 1991 and 1999, are currently sixth in the world rankings and have not made the semifinals of the tournament since 2011.

The Wallaroos are currently ranked fifth.

Gilpin conceded there had been concern at the state of the game in