Birmingham bid to host 2031 & 2033 Rugby World Cups gains big supporter

Rugby fans rejoice! World Rugby–the international governing body of the sport – announced on Thursday it has awarded the United States to host both the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

And that’s not all. According to ESPN, there are 25 prospective host cities nationwide under consideration. On the list…

Birmingham, Alabama.

Support From Birmingham’s Own WorldRugbyShop.com

Even though it might be a longshot, the Magic City does have a huge rugby supporter in its corner — Birmingham-based WorldRugbyShop.com — North America’s largest online rugby shop.

Below is a statement from WorldRugbyShop.com’s Founder and CEO Benard Frei supporting the bid. 

“As the home of the WorldRugbyShop.com, we are hopeful they will also select Birmingham as one of its host cities. We feel confident that the team at World Rugby are commercially brilliant. The World Games this summer will showcase Birmingham’s and Alabama’s strengths while providing a compelling example of what the Magic City has to offer. The rugby world will be watching. Let’s hope they seize the opportunity to bring international Rugby to Alabama.”

-Benard Frei, WorldRugbyShop.com, Founder and CEO

WorldRugbyShop.com have been partners with USA Rugby since 1999. Since 2004, they have also partnered with the current World Cup holders, South Africa’s Springboks. Along with rugby, the company has a sister company – WorldSoccerShop.com / Soccer.com.

Frei believes bringing the World Cups to the U.S. is a game changer for the sport.

“Ross Young (CEO USA Rugby) and his team have changed Rugby. Nearly two hundred years after the boys at Rugby school picked up their ball and ran with it, the US will host two of the greatest World Cups ever held. In the same way as the ‘94 FIFA World Cup changed the face of US soccer, 2031 will create a new global rugby stronghold in the USA,” added Frei.

The Host Cities Competition

Who are the other 24 cities vying to host the Cups? 

• Atlanta; Austin; Baltimore; Boston; Charlotte, Chicago
• Dallas; Denver, Glendale (Arizona), Houston; Kansas City, (Missouri), Los Angeles
• Minneapolis, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego
• San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle; Washington, D.C.

Hey guys—“Ruck on!”