Should the 2023 Rugby World Cup Expand from 20 to 24 Teams?

The discussion on whether to expand the Rugby World Cup from 20 to 24 teams is a contentious one. This article delves into the pros and cons of such an expansion, considering the potential impact on team diversity, competitiveness, fan engagement, and logistical challenges.

Pros of Expansion

Increased Diversity: Adding four more teams would enhance the diversity of playing styles and cultures represented in the tournament. Emerging rugby nations would have a platform to showcase their unique approaches to the game.

Competitive Opportunities: More teams would provide additional competitive opportunities for nations developing their rugby programs. This could significantly boost the global expansion of the sport.

Fan Engagement: An expanded tournament would attract more fans. Countries that typically have low qualification chances would now have a fighting chance, thus increasing viewership and attendance.

More Matches: The introduction of four more teams would mean more matches, enhancing the tournament's excitement and providing more content for broadcasters and fans alike.

Cons of Expansion

Quality of Play: Some argue that adding more teams could dilute the overall quality of competition. The current format ensures that only the best teams face each other, and expanding might water down this exclusivity.

Logistical Challenges: Expanding the tournament would complicate scheduling, venue management, and travel logistics. These issues could lead to increased costs and operational challenges for the event.

Tournament Length: More teams would likely extend the duration of the tournament, posing logistical issues for host nations. This could also lead to player fatigue and affect overall performance.

Qualification Process: An expanded tournament would necessitate changes to the qualification process, which could be complicated for existing teams and leagues.

Conclusion

The decision to expand the Rugby World Cup depends on balancing the desire for inclusivity and growth of the sport with maintaining competitive integrity and logistical feasibility. If the rugby community believes that the benefits of expansion outweigh the drawbacks, it could be a positive step forward. However, if the priority is to maintain high-quality competition, sticking with the current format might be preferable.

Predicting the Future

It is almost inevitable that the Rugby World Cup will expand to 24 teams for the 2027 edition in Australia. The main reason for this expansion is the marketing advantage of the United States hosting the tournament in 2031. Keeping 20 teams would be too risky, as it might deprive the USA of a qualification spot, which would be detrimental to World Rugby's marketing efforts.

World Rugby is ready to invest in US Rugby and the domestic MLR (Major League Rugby) from now until 2031. The aim is to build a market similar to how they did in Japan from 2012-2019. With this in mind, an expansion to 24 teams is seen as a step in the right direction.

Proposed Format for Expansion

Here is a suggested format for the expanded Rugby World Cup:

Keep Four Groups: With six teams per group, teams would lose the bye week as seen in the 2023 tournament. Expand Squad Size: To 35 or 36 players to compensate for the increased workload. Add One Fixure: Introduce a playoff round where second and third-place teams compete with the group winners' semifinal opponents for a direct path to the quarterfinals. This adds intrigue and competitiveness.

This format ensures that the tournament remains competitive while providing more opportunities for growth and fan engagement.

Current Automatic Qualifiers

The automatic qualifiers for the 2023 Rugby World Cup are as follows:

Europe: 9 teams Auto from 2019: 2019 qualifiers and Portugal as repechage winners Oceania: 5 teams Americas: 3 teams Africa: 2 teams Asia: Japan (auto qualifier)

The automatic qualifiers for the 2027 Rugby World Cup will likely follow a similar pattern, with additional qualifications for Europe and the Americas and the expansion of the repechage tournament.

In conclusion, the debate on expanding the Rugby World Cup to 24 teams is complex. Factors such as inclusion, competition, logistics, and market promotion all play a role. The ultimate decision will depend on the ability to balance these aspects effectively.