Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia collaborate on joint bid for 2035 Rugby World Cup
Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia aim to bring Rugby World Cup back to Asia, seeking rule changes and commercial benefits
Gulf States Plan Joint Bid for 2035 Rugby World Cup, Push for Rule Changes
Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are considering a combined bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035 or 2039, according to Asia Rugby president Qais Al Dhalai. The Gulf States intend to bring the coveted tournament back to Asia for the first time since Japan hosted it in 2019. Asia Rugby is supporting this effort, believing that the Middle East has enormous economic potential, citing the financial resources of the region’s major corporations and sovereign wealth funds.
The bid would require World Rugby to implement changes to its current rules. Traditionally, host nations must have qualified for the tournament, but none of the Gulf states have yet achieved this. Al Dhalai, who also heads the UAE Rugby Federation, has advocated for a multi-city hosting model, similar to the successful collaborations seen in soccer, such as the 2002 World Cup hosted by Japan and South Korea, and the upcoming 2026 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
The Gulf states are also proposing a shift in the tournament’s timing. To avoid the region’s extreme summer heat, they suggest the competition be scheduled in December, with the final held in January. This would necessitate a restructuring of the rugby calendar, particularly impacting the Northern Hemisphere Six Nations, which typically runs from February to March.
In terms of commercial benefits, Al Dhalai believes a Rugby World Cup in the Middle East would generate significant revenue through sponsorships, thanks to the increased support for rugby among major Gulf companies such as Qatar Airways and Emirates Airlines. These companies have previously made significant investments in rugby through deals such as Qatar Airways’ sponsorship of the United Rugby Championship and Emirates Airlines’ becoming a global partner of World Rugby.
Despite the potential for major commercial success, rugby in the Middle East remains in its early stages, with national sides in Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia currently ranked lower in the world. However, Asia Rugby is confident in the region’s commercial viability, which could generate significant money through sponsorship deals and boost rugby’s profile in Asia.
Other countries including Italy and Spain are expected to bid to host the tournament. However, the Gulf states are confident that their financial backing, combined with the region’s growing interest in the sport, will make their bid a strong contender.
The move reflects a broader trend of growing interest in rugby in the Middle East to improve its position on the global athletics landscape, despite concerns about sports-laundering and rugby’s low popularity.
