Supporting United States bids to host the Men's and Women's Rugby World Cup tournaments.

Supporting United States bids to host the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments. Whereas, on October 20, 2021, USA Rugby, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, and partner organizations publicly launched the United States bid to host the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 or 2031, and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029; Whereas rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, with more than 100,000 USA Rugby members playing in over 2,500 clubs nationwide, college and high school age players comprising nearly half of the community, and new professional and top-level rugby organizations continuing to build interest in the game; Whereas the Women’s Rugby World Cup tournament will bring teams from 16 nations and the Men’s Rugby World Cup tournament will bring teams from 20 nations, presenting an opportunity for the United States as host country to demonstrate the highest achievable standards for hosting a global sporting event and to serve as a benchmark for future organizers; Whereas hosting Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments in the United States brings with it the prospect of record-setting attendance and financial performance, with recent Rugby World Cup events bringing more than 242,000 fans from around the world to host countries and more than 1,700,000 spectators to stadiums, allowing revenues and tourism generated by the competition to be used for the further development of rugby and economic growth throughout our Nation; Whereas 28 American cities are working with USA Rugby to plan for hosting upcoming Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup matches, with each of these cities embodying the diversity and enthusiasm of the world’s leading sports market and guaranteeing each participating team and its followers an exciting and welcoming atmosphere; Whereas the United States offers a valuable and receptive market within which to further develop the sport of rugby, which in turn will have significant impact on and off the field through the sport’s contributions to healthy lifestyles, community development, and economic growth; Whereas the United States possesses all necessary state-of-the-art infrastructure in its stadiums and potential host cities to ensure that the tournaments set a new standard of quality, comfort, security, and safety for players, officials, spectators, media, and sponsors alike; Whereas hosting Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments in the United States would serve as a tremendous impetus to national and international goodwill, as the competition would bring people from many nations, along with a diverse domestic audience, together to enjoy a sport rooted in respect, inclusivity, and integrity; and Whereas pursuant to World Rugby bidding procedures, certain Federal agencies have been asked to issue guarantees that, upon authorization or appropriation, would establish the conditions required to help make Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments hosted in the United States the most successful in history: Now, therefore, be it That Congress— (1) recognizes and supports the efforts of USA Rugby and its partners to bring upcoming Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments to the United States; (2) encourages the President of the United States and appropriate Federal agencies to support USA Rugby in its efforts to meet all requirements for the United States to host upcoming Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments; and (3) stands prepared to give full consideration to legislative proposals or other requests by the President to provide support related to upcoming Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments if the United States is selected to host these events.

Summary: This concurrent resolution supports the efforts of USA Rugby and its partners to bring upcoming Men's and Women's Rugby World Cup tournaments to the United States.