England’s 2035 Rugby World Cup Bid Receives Huge Boost

Despite early optimism and public backing from sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, the Kingdom failed to submit an ოფიციալ expression of interest to World Rugby ahead of the deadline.

A proposed joint bid with Qatar and the UAE — championed by Asia Rugby president Qais al-Dhalai — has also fizzled out.

With Saudi Arabia now out, the race for 2035 is wide open — but one nation in particular has surged forward.

England’s chances have been significantly strengthened following the huge success of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

A sold-out final at Twickenham Stadium, with 80,000 fans in attendance, capped off a tournament that delivered record-breaking crowds and nationwide engagement.

For World Rugby, it served as a modern-day proof of concept — demonstrating England’s ability to host major rugby events at scale.

With England Rugby also facing financial pressures, a 2035 bid now feels increasingly likely — and increasingly strong.

Argentina has declared its interest in hosting the Rugby World Cup for the first time — a move that would bring the tournament to South America.

Los Pumas boast a passionate fanbase and strong international pedigree, and the country’s time zone works well for both northern and southern hemisphere audiences.

It remains the only Rugby World Cup semi-finalist nation never to host a match — a narrative that could work in its favour.

Italy continues to push for hosting rights, having previously bid for 2015 and 2019.

The Federazione Italiana Rugby sees 2035 as a major opportunity, with the country offering strong stadium infrastructure and the ability to host matches across multiple cities.

Notably, Italy is the only Six Nations nation yet to host Rugby World Cup matches.

Spain presents an intriguing alternative, combining elite football stadiums with a strong tourism offering.

The prospect of matches at iconic venues — backed by discussions involving Alan Gilpin — has caught attention, while the country’s transport infrastructure adds to its appeal.

España Rugby has made its ambitions clear despite past qualification controversies.

Japan remains firmly in the mix after the success of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

That tournament set new benchmarks commercially and attracted hundreds of thousands of international visitors. While some argue it’s too soon for a return, Brett Robinson has confirmed Japan is “squarely in the conversation.”

A safe, financially reliable option, Japan will be hard to overlook.

South Africa’s position remains uncertain.

Despite being the most successful nation in Rugby World Cup history, SA Rugby has yet to confirm whether it will bid.

Previous near-misses — including the controversial loss of the 2023 hosting rights — may weigh heavily, with reports suggesting limited optimism internally.