IRB to expand Women's Rugby World Cup

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has approved a three-point plan to ensure the growth of the Women’s Rugby World Cup brand to inspire the next generation of female players.

The approval of the plan by the IRB Council follows an extensive strategic review of Women’s Rugby World Cup by tournament owners Rugby World Cup Limited.

Key review considerations included tournament timing within the international Women’s Rugby calendar, the tournament delivery model, tournament format and the global qualification criteria with the objective of further boosting competition standards, global profile and fan engagement.

The following recommendations were agreed by Council:

• Women’s Rugby World Cup to move to every four years from 2017 to optimise the international competition calendar and enable the world’s top players to compete in the pinnacle Fifteens and Sevens events

• Women’s Rugby World Cup to be capped at 12 teams to ensure the highest competition standards

• The global qualification process to be streamlined to ensure the participation of the world’s best teams on the world’s biggest stage

RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset stated “women’s Rugby is one of the world’s fastest growing team sports with an unprecedented 1.5 million women and girls participating across every continent.

“At the forefront of the phenomenal growth are our flagship women’s Fifteens and Sevens events and we are committed to ensuring that Women’s Rugby World Cup is cemented as one of the prestige properties in women’s sport.”

Details of the qualification process and tender process for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 and 2021 will be announced in due course.

17th November 2012 - RUGBY SEVENS’ POPULARITY GROWS AMONG WOMEN