A GLOBAL SPORT FOR ALLWORLD RUGBY STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-25
A decade of growth through partnership
In the last 10 years, rugby has grown on and off the pitch, with more fans than ever before and new players in all corners of the world.
The popularity of women’s rugby has soared.
We have seen a spectacular return to the Olympic Games.
And record-breaking Rugby World Cups.
All underpinned by an unwavering focus on player welfare.
THE GLOBAL ADVANCEMENT OF RUGBY
128 member unions
(+11 since 2009)
9.6m people play rugby globally
(up from 3.7m in 2009)
28% of global players are women
877m global rugby followers
(up 30% since 2013)
Most successful men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups and first in an emerging market
Rugby sevens returned to the Olympic Games
32% increase in interest in emerging rugby nations and two-thirds see the game as more exciting
Player welfare advances successfully implemented including concussion prevention strategies and injury prevention programmes
Governance and decision-making structures modernised, advancing gender, nation and player inclusion
2016-20 STRATEGIC PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
Player welfare standards adopted by all elite competitions
Exponential growth of accredited medics, coaches and trainers globally
RWC 2019 delivers 60% surplus of 2015 event for reinvestment in the game
World Rugby high-performance investment increases global competitiveness, including at Rugby World Cups
Sevens cemented within the Olympic Games programme after Rio debut
World Rugby governance review implemented
01.EMBRACING CHALLENGE AND CHANGE
As we adapt and rebuild following the global COVID-19 pandemic, we must reimagine the role that our sport can play as a positive force for good in society.
Act with conviction and purpose, confronting the challenges we face, and continue to take every opportunity to advance the welfare of our players.
Be alive to the wider challenges facing society and the role we can play. We need to celebrate and promote diversity within rugby and society as a whole.
Play our part in supporting people and communities as they recover from this pandemic and support action to address climate change and make sport more sustainable.
The foundations built over the last decade mean rugby is in a strong place as we look forward to the next decade and the challenges ahead.
Sir Bill Beaumont
World Rugby Chairman
“We are proud to launch our Strategic Plan 2021-2025. As World Rugby Chair, a former player, father of three rugby playing sons, and a fan, I am passionate about our sport at all levels and this strategy will take rugby forward, united behind a plan that serves the whole game."
"From community and professional club rugby, to unions, regions, commercial partners and fans, everyone has their say and part to play. Against a challenging societal and sporting backdrop, it will guide us as we work together to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and grow the game we all love."
“Our game-changing targets aim to grow global participation, increase fan engagement and support our players, current, future and past - whose welfare continues to be our number one priority, transcending all we do. Importantly, the plan reflects our ambition for rugby to be progressive and tackle key societal issues. To bring people together and get them active in a safe and welcoming environment where everyone has equal opportunity to participate.”
02.OUR GAME CHANGERS
Over the next four years, we will focus on four key areas that are vital to the future prosperity of the sport.
For each, we have set a series of game-changing targets that reflect our ambition and values.
MAKING THE GAME ALL IT CAN BE
The game is the heartbeat of our sport and it must be as safe, attractive and as enjoyable as possible at all levels.
Player welfare transcends everything that we do and will continue to be our number one priority.
Throughout the life of this strategic plan we will lead an open discussion with all our stakeholders about how we can continually advance player welfare and be constantly guided by scientific advice and medical advances. We will:
Lead targeted research informing and advancing injury prevention and mental wellbeing
Advance player welfare law review and trials to further protect players
Develop a flexible and practical ‘Community Code’ for 15s community rugby
Launch a non-contact form of the game for unions to implement
Increase player and coach input in World Rugby Committees and key decisions
Put fans at the forefront of decisions through our Fan Panel
ENHANCING OUR COMPETITIONS
We will raise standards and competitiveness by optimising our international competitions, to provide further opportunities for elite women and emerging markets, and to grow and diversify revenues. We will:
Launch new annual women’s and men’s emerging nations competitions by 2022
Deliver 10-year men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup hosting certainty
Ensure Rugby World Cup 2021 is the most successful women’s event ever
Advance the sport on the global stage at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Revamp the World Rugby Sevens Series for 2022
Seek to develop a more compelling competition structure and unified approach to promoting the international competition cycle
GROWING PARTICIPATION
With little community rugby being played during 2020, our central focus will be on retaining players and supporting unions and regions to build capacity and capability.
Alongside this, we will focus on growing women in rugby – the single biggest opportunity to grow the sport. We will:
Maintain a Union Fund to benefit participants in current major markets
Support a Union Fund to target female participation in established markets
Review the 2017-2025 Women’s Development Plan in 2021
Identify and support target markets based on participation and Performance potential, Union capability and capacity, and commercial sustainability
Increase Union capacity to sustain players, coaches, officials, staff and volunteers
INCREASING ENGAGEMENT
We will continue to promote rugby and its values, driving engagement and enhancing collaboration across the sport. We will:
Drive a 10% increase in global followers and fans by 2025
Optimise our digital platforms to grow revenue for reinvestment in the game
Introduce an annual ‘State of the Union’ survey to gather feedback and better understand the needs of partners and fans
A RESPONSIBLE PARTNER
It is a plan for everyone involved in the game - regional associations, unions, partner organisations, Commercial Partners - and we are committed to being a responsible partner to all. We will live our values, continue to modernise our governance, and embrace diversity, inclusion and sustainability at every level. We will:
Implement the Independent Governance Review outcome
Activate diversity targets across recruitment and retention, communications, portrayal, and monitoring
Advance the ambitions of our Sustainability Charter, based on the UN Sports for Climate Action Declaration and Framework
03.OUR VALUES
Our values are at the heart of everything we do, how we behave as an organisation and a sport.
