World Rugby is exploring the possibility of staging Six Nations matches in the United States, viewing the American market as a key area for the sport's expansion. The governing body believes there is sufficient interest to support a fixture from the popular European championship, particularly as the U.S. prepares to host the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
"If you could take a Six Nations game to the right place, to a Boston or to a New York, where there's a lot of those fanbases, you can definitely drive the economics," said World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin. He pointed to the strong turnout for the recent match between South Africa and New Zealand in Baltimore as evidence of the sport's growing appeal in the U.S.
Gilpin cited a hypothetical Italy vs. Ireland game as an example of a fixture that could attract significant interest, given the large Irish and Italian fan bases in America. He acknowledged that such a move would require careful consideration of how it impacts fans in the home nations.
"Now, you're going to have Irish fans and Italian fans in those respective home countries saying, 'Hang on a minute, you know, we want to see our country play?'" Gilpin noted. "The counter argument to that is it's still Irish and Italian fans getting the chance to watch their team, so they're just not the ones who live in Ireland and Italy on this occasion. But that's a balancing piece we've got to work through."
The strategic push to bring Six Nations games to the U.S. aligns with the broader plan to develop rugby's presence in North America, culminating in the 2031 World Cup.