The highly anticipated final match of "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" between New Zealand and South Africa is set to take place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore this Saturday. The Springboks currently hold a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin views the game as a significant milestone on the path to the 2031 Rugby World Cup, which the US will host. Gilpin noted that more than 25 cities are still engaged in the venue selection process, which has been ongoing for the past two years.
The Baltimore match is expected to draw a record-breaking sell-out crowd of 71,000 for rugby in the US. Gilpin also mentioned that future plans for the US could include hosting Six Nations games, citing the potential economic benefits and existing fanbases for teams like Ireland and Italy.
World Rugby is also focused on the growth of the sport at a grassroots level in the US, alongside a $200m investment for the 2031 World Cup and the women's World Cup two years later. This includes supporting community, college, club, youth, and high school rugby programmes.