Rugby Australia is seeking to host a mini-World Cup in July 2021, their Chairman Hamish McLennan has revealed.
The Rugby Championship matches pitting South Africa, Argentina, and New Zealand are set to take place as usual while France are also expected to tour Australia. McLennan believes there is an opportunity to have another competition in addition to the Rugby Championship and other teams from Europe are free to join.
“We are still expecting the Rugby Championship to go ahead this year but perhaps we can add to it and create a ‘mini World Cup,” McLennan told the Financial Times.
“We have the French in July but if anyone else wants to come out, great. We have a significant British and Irish population here and South Africans.”
“We are open to creating a new tournament and keeping the international calendar going.”
According to media reports, the proposed tournament could run in parallel with the Rugby Championship and involve any number of teams from Europe. Australia have done well in containing the COVID-19 pandemic and successfully hosted the Super Rugby AU and Rugby Championship with crowds attending.
A ‘mini World Cup’ could boost the coffers of all the participating unions and would also be a lucrative venture for the hosts.
