The international federation is seeking to increase the presence of rugby across the Atlantic with a view to the 2031 World Cup, but is encountering resistance from the authorities of the Six Nations Tournament.
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World Rugby is seeking to develop rugby in the United States ahead of the 2031 World Cup. The Six Nations is an independent entity managed by the European federations and the CVC fund.
The international federation World Rugby would like more international matches to be relocated to the United States, including those of the Six Nations Tournament, but faces skepticism from European federations.
Matches relocated to the United States have become quite frequent in rugby, including two confrontations between Ireland and New Zealand, the last in 2025, and the last match of the series between South Africa and New Zealand, Saturday in Baltimore in front of the well-stocked stands of a stadium with a capacity of 70,000 seats, won by the reigning double world champions (43-28).
The international federation would like to further increase the pace in view of the 2031 World Cup in the United States, while rugby is struggling to establish itself there despite massive investments.
The South Africa – New Zealand match on Saturday generated “more revenue than the equivalent played in South Africa or New Zealand,” World Rugby executive director Alan Gilpin assured British media The Times. The average ticket price is higher than what we are used to seeing in rugby.”
The manager also promised that World Rugby will give “incentives” to federations which agree to relocate a match so that the solution is even more lucrative. He had already openly questioned in 2025 how to make such posters possible in the United States.
“Nothing is on the agenda”
According to The Times, the Italian federation would be the most inclined to cross the Atlantic.
There is still a long way to go, particularly for the Six Nations Tournament which does not depend on World Rugby, but on a committee made up of the six federations and the CVC investment fund. “Nothing is on the agenda,” Abdelatif Benazzi, president of the Tournament council, assured AFP on Monday. The matches for the 2027 edition have already been validated and all locations must be accepted by all the federations.
“Developing sport in this country thanks to the experts on site is a good thing. Rugby must get out of its traditional places” but linking this development to the Six Nations Tournament is “total confusion” according to him.
The former French international second row (78 caps) believes that the framework for relocations is more favorable during test matches or preparation matches for the World Cup. In 2025, France refused to allow the last of its three tour matches in New Zealand to be relocated to the United States.
Ireland takes stock of the situation
The tours are replaced every other year by a new competition pitting the nations of the northern hemisphere against those of the southern hemisphere, the Nations Championship, with a single clash between selections.
The Irish FA also indicated that there are currently no plans or discussions regarding hosting Six Nations matches in the United States involving Ireland. The possibility for supporters “to support their teams at home remains a central element of the appeal of this competition”, insists the Irish federation.

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