Rugby World Cup 2025 set to break new ground as tournament expands to 16 teams
Press Release
30th November 2020,
World Rugby has confirmed that the women’s edition of the Rugby World Cup will expand to 16 teams from 2025 onwards.
- Women’s edition of the Rugby World Cup to increase from 12 to 16 teams from 2025 onwards
- Decision directly delivers against core pillar of the transformational women’s rugby strategic plan 2017-25
- Future RWC host selection process opens in February 2021 and will conclude in May 2022 with a Council vote
- World Rugby Council has approved a progressive host selection awarding process featuring a risk-based evaluation and open, published vote
World Rugby has confirmed that the women’s edition of the Rugby World Cup will expand to 16 teams from 2025 onwards.
The landmark decision, taken by the Rugby World Cup Board earlier this year, reflects World Rugby’s commitment to accelerating development of the women’s game globally through its transformational women’s strategic plan 2017-25.
With women’s rugby interest and participation going from strength to strength, the decision supports a core pillar of the plan in increasing the global competitiveness of women’s international rugby, providing the opportunity for more teams to be more competitive on the biggest stages.
Women’s rugby has experienced record growth in recent years, with women and girls now accounting for 28% of the global playing population.
Interest in Rugby World Cup hosting continues to grow ahead of the formal process beginning in February 2021 and today’s announcement follows recent confirmation of key elements relation to the evaluation, publication and voting process for the 2025 and 2029 editions, which will be awarded at the same time as the men’s in May 2022.
Rugby World Cup continues to go from strength to strength and New Zealand 2021 is set to feature a host of exciting new format changes which prioritise player welfare and event promotion.
The original article can be found here.
