The USA has been accepted as a candidate to host rugby union's Rugby World Cups in 2027, 2029 and 2031.
The endorsement from World Rugby comes after USA Rugby completed a feasiblity study on the men's competitions in 2027 and 2031 and the women's event in 2029.
The USA is set to face competition from Australia and Russia for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Indeed, Australia is considered the favourite, with Rugby Australia having projected that the event would provide an economic boost of A$2.5 billion ($1.9 billion) for the nation.
Meanwhile, a joint bid from the UK and Ireland is expected for the 2031 edition.
The US feasibility group will now transition into the bid committee and prepare a proposal and campaign ahead of World Rugby’s deadline for bids of January 2022.
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By GlobalDataThe proposal will include financial planning, event objectives, competitions, stadiums and host cities, player welfare, rugby development, legacy and more.
Ross Young, chief executive of USA Rugby, said: “Putting our hand up to host a Rugby World Cup is a benchmark for the game in America, however the exciting stages are just now beginning as the stakeholder group continues into campaign planning. The great work this group of subject matter experts, led by former Director Jim Brown, has done supersedes what has happened previously at this stage, and truly highlights the potential for a Rugby World Cup being held on American soil.”
Jim Brown, chair of the USA Rugby World Cup bid, added: “In August, we set out to do a full evaluation and expert analysis to answer a question long asked, can the United States host a Rugby World Cup? The process was an undertaking; however, we are delighted to confirm that the US could not only meet the technical requirements of hosting the men’s and women’s events, but also reach new levels of team and fan experience. We look forward to sharing results with the USA Rugby community and begin this journey towards rugby’s biggest stage.”
World Rugby's next major events are the women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, which was delayed from this year to 2022, and the men's edition in France in 2023.