Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 tender process opens

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 tender process opens
Just months after a record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, the tender process has now opened to host the event in 2017.

The tournament, which was won by England after a thrilling final in Paris last August, will move to 2017 to maximise synergy with the Olympic and Rugby World Cup Sevens cycles, allowing the world’s best female players to compete on rugby’s biggest stages. The event will return to a four-year cycle after 2017.

The tender process was ratified by World Rugby Council at its meeting in London last week.

Head of Rugby World Cup Alan Gilpin said: “This year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in France was a watershed moment for the women’s game. With record crowds, record TV audiences and the fantastic rugby on display, it really raised the bar for the sport.

“We’ve already had interest from a number of unions in hosting 2017, and judging from the media interest and crowd participation this year, I really believe it will be another fantastic event, wherever it takes place.”

The tender process is now open for interested unions to apply, and World Rugby Council will make a decision on the host union at a scheduled meeting in May 2015.