The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are planning a joint bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035, according to a report in The Times newspaper.
In an interview with the London-based newspaper president of Asia Rugby Qaid Al Dhalai said the Gulf nations are considering a joint bid to create “the most successful event in the history of rugby” in either 2035 or 2039.
Although no official bid has been launched, The Times report said the sport’s governing bodies would consider a multi-country host offering as seen in the football World Cup.
Al Dhalai told The Times: “As our leaders in the Gulf believe, nothing is impossible. I foresee this as something that might happen in 2035. I don’t want to underestimate other bids and I believe South Africa and other European countries might be interested as well, but if World Rugby worked hard on this with a solid plan it might happen in 2035.”
The next men’s Rugby World Cup will be played in Australia in 2027 before moving to the US in 2029.
