Sports (Commonwealth Union) In a historic move for international rugby, the first Rugby Club World Cup will be launched in 2028, bringing together the best club teams from the northern and southern hemispheres. The long-anticipated tournament was confirmed after unanimous agreement among the sport’s leading unions and leagues, following pivotal meetings in Cardiff.
The competition, to be held every four years, aims to elevate professional club rugby to new heights. Organized by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), the same governing body that oversees the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Rugby Club World Cup will feature 16 elite teams in its inaugural edition.
Format and Qualifications
Under the proposed structure, eight clubs will qualify through Super Rugby Pacific and the Japan Rugby League One, while the other eight spots will be awarded to the quarter-finalists of the Champions Cup. This blend ensures a global representation of the sport’s strongest club sides, creating an unprecedented spectacle for rugby fans.
The tournament will be divided into four pools of four teams, with the top teams advancing to the semi-finals and a grand final. Reports indicate that Barcelona, a European destination city, is a strong contender to host the first edition.
A Global Rugby Vision
EPCR chairman Dominic McKay expressed his excitement over the global scope of the competition, which has been in development for several years.
“We want to create this World Club Cup proposition in 2028 and 2032 with our friends from the south,” McKay said. “We already have these incredible competitions, like the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Now, we want to elevate them further by integrating top-tier clubs from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.”
According to McKay, the move is designed not only for rugby purists but also with future audiences in mind. “From a player’s perspective, a fan’s perspective, and a future fan’s perspective, we believe the next generation wants to see the world’s greatest clubs come together,” he added.
Fixture Adjustments and Integration
The introduction of the Club World Cup will require scheduling changes across key domestic leagues. The Top 14, the English Premiership, the United Rugby Championship (URC), and Super Rugby Pacific will all need to shift their playoff timelines to accommodate the new tournament, which will replace the knockout stages of the Champions Cup every four years.
The 2028 edition is expected to be staged at the end of the 2027–28 season, slotting in just before the Nations Cup, another biannual international competition set to launch in 2026.
What It Means for Global Rugby
The Champions Cup, founded in 1995, currently includes top clubs from England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy, and South Africa. On the other side, Super Rugby Pacific, launched in 1996, features elite teams from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Moana Pasifika.
Adding clubs from the Japanese Rugby League One into the mix will further diversify and globalize the competition. As it stands, Brave Lupus Tokyo, Saitama Wild Knights, Spears Tokyo Bay, and Kobe Steelers are among the top contenders from Japan’s top division.
Were the tournament to be held this year, likely Champions Cup qualifiers would include Toulouse, Leinster, Munster, Glasgow Warriors, Toulon, Castres, Northampton Saints, and Bordeaux-Bègles. From the southern hemisphere, the top seven from Super Rugby Pacific—Crusaders, Chiefs, Blues, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds, and Moana Pasifika—would also participate, with the final spot going to a Japanese invitee.
A Ryder Cup Moment for Rugby?
The idea of a Rugby Club World Cup has long appealed to fans and administrators alike. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, a key voice on the EPCR board, likened the potential of the event to the Ryder Cup in golf, emphasizing the excitement that comes with continental rivalry.
“There’s more and more conversation around the north vs. south debate,” Sweeney noted. “This format answers that question in the best way possible—by letting the best clubs in the world compete on one stage.”
For fans and players alike, the Rugby Club World Cup promises a dynamic new chapter in professional rugby. With the backing of the sport’s most powerful organizations, the stage is set for a global club showdown that could redefine the landscape of rugby union for years to come.
