Rugby/EPCR: agreement in principle to create a quadrennial Club World Cup from 2028

European Professional Club Rugby and the organising leagues of the Top 14 (France), Premiership Rugby (England), the BKT United Rugby Championship (South Africa, Scotland, Ireland, Wales) and Super Rugby Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji) have reached an "agreement in principle" for the creation of a "Club Rugby World Cup" to be played from 2028, according to British media (The Times, Daily Mail and The Guardian) on 08/04/2024.

The competition would be held every four years, with the first edition taking place in the northern hemisphere in June 2028, forcing the leagues concerned to move the finals of their domestic championship to May. The parties involved would also be open to the idea of holding the 2032 edition in the southern hemisphere, "but that would be dependent on broadcasting deals," according to the Daily Mail.

16 clubs would take part in this tournament. The eight clubs that qualify from the Round of 16 of the 2027-28 Investec Champions Cup would take part in this "Club World Cup", which would replace the final phase of the EPCR's European competition…