Russia set to submit bids for hosting Rugby World Cup in 2027 and 2031

MOSCOW, October 2. /TASS/. The Russian Rugby Federation (RRF) will submit official bids to host the Rugby World Cup in 2027 and 2031, RRF High Council CEO Igor Artemyev announced during the federation’s Council meeting on Friday. "We are set to submit official bids for the organization of the Rugby World Cup in Russia in 2027 and 2031," Artemyev stated. The RRF High Council adopted at its session on Friday a decision to set up a special committee in charge of the preparation of the bids for the organization of the Rugby World Cup tournaments in 2027 and 2031. The Rugby World Cup has been held once every four years since 1987 and Russia has never hosted this international tournament. The 2019 Rugby World Cup was hosted by 12 cities across Japan between September 20 and November 2 and the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be hosted by France. The Russian national team managed to qualify for the 2019 World Rugby Cup in Japan and was drawn into Group A alongside the teams from Ireland, Samoa, Scotland and Japan. However, the Russian squad lost all of its four group stage matches, namely 10-30 to Japan, 9-34 to Samoa, 0-35 to Ireland and 0-61 to Scotland and finished in the last place of its Group A with zero points. Russia qualified for the Rugby World Cup series for the first time ever in 2011. The 2011 Rugby World Cup was hosted by New Zealand and Russia did not clear the group stage losing all matches. The national rugby squad missed the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, as it did not qualify for the global competition. In October 2019, Artemyev said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had nothing against plans for submitting a bid to host the 2027 World Rugby Cup in Russia. Read more