FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup Tournament Opening Press Conference - Roland Garros, Paris, France - September 4, 2023 World Rugby CEO, Alan Gilpin during the press conference REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
(Reuters) - Representatives from dozens of U.S. cities attended a summit hosted by World Rugby in Washington DC on Friday to hear details about potentially hosting the men's Rugby World Cup in 2031 and women's World Cup in 2033.
World Rugby believes there is a huge market for the sport in the U.S. and estimates it could generate $80 billion in economic opportunities in the U.S. over the next 20 years.
Cities including Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas and Los Angeles all expressed interest in playing a part in hosting the international tournament when it comes to North America for the first time.
"Today we were delighted to welcome more than 30 amazing US cities and states who have expressed an interest in helping us create history with Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033," World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said in a statement.
"With an estimated 55 million fans in the U.S., 800,000 registered players and over 3,100 registered clubs, rugby is already very much alive and kicking in the US.
"United by rugby, we will be using the two tournaments to shine a spotlight on the men's and women's game to show the rest of the world what the U.S. has to offer for rugby and how these two tournaments can help grow the game sustainably for the future."
The U.S. won the hosting rights for the 2031 and 2033 tournaments in May 2022 when World Rugby laid out its 11-year hosting plans.
It said the success of the men's World Cup in Japan in 2019 showed the sport can thrive outside its traditional strongholds like England, New Zealand and Australia.
England will host the women's Rugby World Cup 2025, and Australia will host men's Rugby World Cup 2027 and women's Rugby World Cup 2029.
The U.S. takes on Scotland in Washington DC later on Friday and Fiji will face New Zealand in San Diego on July 19.
Rugby sevens will be contested at the upcoming Paris Olympics and at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
