A record number of countries formally expressed an interest in hosting the tournament including Russia, South Africa and the USA.
The Russian bid, for Moscow, is backed by the Federal and City Authorities including the Minister for Sport, the Foreign Affairs Department and the Mayor of Moscow. The event also has the backing of the City of Moscow Sports Committee, which has an annual sports budget of over $600 million and world-class experience in staging sports events.
The RUR believes that if it wins the bid, the event will help grow rugby union within Russia and also internationally by uniting the Russia of Europe with the Russia of Asia under one, enormous rugby playing nation, which will create a sustainable platform for the game’s global growth which no other bid can match.
Moscow recently won the right to host the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
