World Rugby: 2026-2031 strategy targets USA to accelerate economic growth

World Rugby unveiled a six-year strategic plan (2026-2031) built around a vision of "Powering Rugby, Uniting the Game and Enriching Lives" on 21 May 2026. The strategy follows consultation "with member unions, regions and other key stakeholders" and was unanimously approved by the World Rugby Council in September 2025.

"This plan is expressly designed to address the biggest challenges and opportunities facing rugby in an evolving landscape - financial sustainability and growing rugby’s relevance and impact. A plan by the game, for the game, it sets out a clear, ambitious and realistic framework to ensure rugby continues to thrive within a rapidly changing global sports and entertainment environment," the international federation said.

This development will notably rely on revenues generated by the men’s Rugby World Cups in Australia (2027) and the United States (2031). After redistributing £400m to unions following Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, World Rugby is targeting "the biggest financial surpluses in the sport’s history" in the Australian and US markets. As part of this…