As the Rugby World Cup in Japan gets underway, read the best of SportBusiness’ rugby coverage and get a real understanding of what is driving the game.

World Rugby and the World Cup

Read our wide-ranging, heavyweight interview with World Rugby's CEO Brett Gospar on the plans, hopes and legacy of rugby union's showpiece tournament. You can also explore our proprietary data on rugby media and sponsorship rights with an in-depth interview with World Rugby's CCO Tom Hill, as the 2019 edition is set to exceed expectations.
Rugby Union
Events

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper tell Kevin Roberts about his hopes for the impact and legacy of the showpiece 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan at the tail end of a year when plans for a global Nations Championship foundered on the rocks of resistance from the sport’s established nations.
Rugby Union
Sponsorship & Marketing

Tom Hill, chief commercial officer, World Rugby speaks exclusively to SportBusiness about the commercial programme for the 2019 World Cup in Japan

Rugby World Cup sponsorship and fan engagement

We take a look at the merchandise licencing strategy and how it can help bring rugby to a wider audience, and we also have an analysis on the wider impact staging the tournament in Asia could have in the region and how it can tap into a potentially huge fan-base.
Rugby Union
Licensing & Merchandising

IMG Licensing says it has secured contracts with 25 Japanese licensees and 21 global licensees for this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. Ben Cronin reports.
Rugby
Events

The best rugby players on the planet are heading to Japan for the first Asian Rugby World Cup, but what impact will it have on the fan and player base across the continent – and the game’s commercial prospects? SportBusiness Asia editor Kelvin Tan reports.

What's next: can rugby be reborn in the USA?

Growing rugby union globally is a key objective for World Rugby and the USA is a large and lucrative target market. Read some of our in-depth coverage that looks at both the failures and success USA Rugby has achieved to date, as well as how the domestic professional game is gradually building momentum.
Rugby Union
Governance

After almost going bankrupt in 2018 following the collapse of for-profit subsidiary Rugby International Marketing (RIM), USA Rugby is pinning its hopes on being awarded the 2027 or 2031 Rugby World Cup. Bob Williams examines how the sport is growing in the States.
Rugby Union
Governance

Bob Williams looks at the development of Major League Rugby in the US, and how the league is looking to avoid the mistakes made by previous organisations' attempts to successfully break the sport in the US market.