Tier 1 Nations Endorse 20-Team World Cup Format
Delivering a 2015 Rugby World Cup tournament format and window that continues to maximise the growth and prosperity of the global game was the focus for delegates attending an IRB Tier 1 Chairmen and Chief Executives meeting in Auckland today.
With this year’s Rugby World Cup on track to be a resounding success, the meeting was a key step in the Rugby World Cup review process as recommended at the IRB Economics of Rugby Conference last May.
Agenda topics for consideration included the tournament format, the number of participating teams, the match schedule and rest periods and the ongoing review of the RWC commercial model and distribution of revenues.
During a constructive forum, the delegates unanimously recommended retaining the current Rugby World Cup format of 20 teams spilt across four pools.
Delegates also reaffirmed their support of the IRB’s planned review of the Rugby World Cup match schedule to deliver the best possible balance of rest days for all teams.
The Tier 1 Union delegates at the meeting committed to playing midweek matches during the 2015 Rugby World Cup in order to help achieve a better balance for Tier 2 and Tier 3 Unions.
The meeting also endorsed the commitment to review the Rugby World Cup commercial model, revenue distribution and the 2015 tournament’s start date as planned following the completion of the 2011 event in New Zealand.
While the meeting was not a decision-making forum, key recommendations will be put forward to the IRB Executive Committee and/or IRB Council for consideration.
IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The success of the Rugby World Cup has been essential to the global prosperity and growth of our sport over the last decade.
“It has delivered the financial platform to enable more men, women and children to participate across all continents over the next decade.
“A review of the format and match schedule is undertaken after every tournament. This scheduled meeting, its recommendations, coupled with the ongoing commercial model review, will ensure that the Rugby World Cup continues to serve the needs of the global game at every level while reinforcing its place as one of the world’s premier sports events.
“I would like to thank the Tier 1 Chairmen and Chief Executives for their full and open contribution to the meeting and their commitment to the review process.”
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