.jpg)
Friends in rugby,
I hope you are keeping well and enjoying the spectacular rugby currently taking place around the globe. The Executive Board was privileged to experience a hugely successful Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in the magnificent new Kai Tak Stadium. The energy on the pitch was matched by the enormous energy of the fans, as always. It was a breathtaking blend of rugby and entertainment – the future of sports entertainment.
It was in the spirit of that sevens energy that we set about three days of really productive work as a Board, discussing the future of our great game and the moves the sport needs to make to remain accessible and relevant, vital for our long-term health in attracting and retaining fans.
This includes how we can make the most of our investment in the sport. As you are aware, World Rugby is investing more than ever in our membership – £311 million over this Men’s Rugby World Cup cycle, an increase of 28 per cent over the last cycle. But, to grow, to tackle the financial headwinds, we must grow our revenues. Simple redistribution does not solve our collective challenges.
This means making the right decisions regarding revenue growth opportunities, collaboration on cost management, and the need to all wrap around a common approach. This was at the heart of the Board’s discussions in Hong Kong, and in terms of next steps, we will bring these strands together at our May Council meeting for the membership to openly discuss, and build together the first iteration of the key pillars of our new strategic plan, which will be launched in September.
Sevens Critical to the Global Rugby Ecosystem
Staying on the SVNS theme, in examining future competition models, the Board reaffirmed support of the critical role that our Olympic sport plays in the rugby and wider sporting ecosystem. We recognize that we simply have to evolve the SVNS model to be more financially sustainable, provide more hosting and revenue opportunities for unions and certainty for players on the three-year sprint to LA28. Further details in due course.
Reaffirmation of USA RWC and Women’s Growth Plan Importance
Speaking of the US, the Board got into both the macro and micro detail of our growth markets plan, critiquing where we are and assessing the art of the possible. The US is at the heart of this plan, and the Board reaffirmed the importance of the sport wrapping around game-changing Rugby World Cups in the USA, growing value for the sport as a whole.
We are making strong progress in hosting preparations. We have really engaged host cities and have so far run venue review workshops with more than 30 interested stadium and cities. The enthusiasm and opportunity is huge!
Within the roadmap, the women’s game must lead the way. The women’s sports market is booming, and the US is at the heart of the revolution. We are exploring ways to unlock and accelerate this enormous potential across the ecosystem that has the ability to grow rugby’s economy, whether that’s building stars, new competitions, college pathways and so on.
Indeed the momentum of the women’s game was on display in Hong Kong, where the Board participated in the Hong Kong China Rugby Union’s Women’s Leaders Inspiring Female Talent program. It was hugely rewarding and inspiring to share our experiences and stories with the next generation of leaders starting their rugby journey.
Strong Game Built on a Compelling Product and Sport-leading Welfare
The product has never been better on the field and we are witnessing thrilling matches around the world at international and domestic level. There will always be healthy debate about aspects of law to tweak, but as we head towards a huge Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in just over 130 days, we should celebrate our sport and our incredible athletes, rather than air our dirty linen in public, including criticism of our match officials, who are vital to the game’s health. This really will be central to our ways of working within our strategy reset.
The Nations Cup will be at the heart of a new global men’s calendar from next year. Progress is being made at both the top and second division level and, with teams qualifying to the second division, we are busy working on a sustainable model for the second division that maximises performance, engagement and commercial outcomes while managing our cost base. Details will be published once we know the geographies of all teams who have qualified.
A great product has its foundations in welfare, and as a Board, we discussed the world-leading progress in player welfare and in particular our brain health services which continue to roll out around the world and smart mouth guards, which will change both the pro and community games. As a sport, I really don’t think we celebrate this enough.
Finally, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the FIR following the passing of former President Giancarlo Dondi, who was involved in World Rugby’s Council and Board structures for 20 years and was instrumental in Italy’s inclusion in the Six Nations. Also, our condolences to the Japan Rugby Football Union following the passing of Noboru ‘Nobby’ Mashimo, who was instrumental in bringing the men’s Rugby World Cup to Japan and a driving force behind rugby in Japan and Asia.
I look forward to seeing you in person in a couple of months.
Brett Robinson
World Rugby Chair
