Dr. Brett Robinson on World Rugby's growth strategies – Part 2

Money, momentum and major choices: World Rugby is being rewired off the field as the Women’s World Cup, WXV and Olympic sevens reshape the sport for a new era. Can World Rugby turn the Women’s World Cup, sevens and a bold Pan Am Americas strategy into year‑round revenue to secure the game ahead of the 2027 and 2031 Rugby World Cups?

David Pembroke sits down with World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson to unpack why roughly 90% of revenue still comes from the Rugby World Cup, the tough funding choices facing unions, and the growth engines the sport is banking on. From Super Rugby Americas and Argentina’s leadership to Chile, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay breaking through for 2027, plus plans for high‑profile test matches in the US, LA28 and Brisbane 2032 for sevens, this episode lays out the pressures, opportunities and the road to 2027.

Ask Eddie Jones and Ewen McKenzie anything! Fill out the form below 👇
tinyurl.com/rugbyunityquestions 👈👈

👉 Want more from Rugby Unity? .substack.com/

In this episode:
00:00 🎙️ Introduction to Part 2: Off-Field Rugby Topics
01:06 💼 Financial Health of World Rugby and Challenges
02:44 💰 Funding Pathways and the Women's Sevens Game
06:33 📊 World Rugby's Revenue: Dependence on World Cup
09:31 📈 The Phenomenal Growth of the Women's Game
15:47 🏅 Rugby's Role in the Olympic Movement: Sevens
20:00 🌎 World Rugby's Strategic Plan for the Americas
23:25 🤝 Building Connections and Fan Engagement in the US
26:05 ⏳ Anticipation for Rugby World Cup 2027
28:06 🎯 The Purpose and Vision of World Rugby
30:26 🎤 Conclusion and Call for Engagement

📌 How will the growth of the women's game shape the future of rugby? Share your thoughts below!

📩 Got a question? Email us: info@rugbyunity.com.au
🔔 !
📲 Follow us on socials → TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook & LinkedIn @RugbyUnityPodcast

Thanks to ElevenLabs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software.