The U.S. has launched a bid to host both the menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 Rugby World Cup with Vancouver billed as a potential host city.

WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 public launch of the bid comes on the eve of the U.S. Eagles playing a high-profile test match against the All Blacks on Saturday in the inaugural 1874 Cup at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. bid is to host the menB次元官网网址檚 tournament in 2027 or 2031 and the womenB次元官网网址檚 event in 2029, making the first time a bid group has sought to host both competitions together. If successful, it would also mark the first time a menB次元官网网址檚 Rugby World Cup has been held in North or South America. Canada hosted the womenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup in 2006.

The bid group includes Vancouver in a list of cities under consideration for participation.

Asked about VancouverB次元官网网址檚 inclusion, a Rugby Canada spokeswoman said: B次元官网网址淩ugby Canada is co-ordinating with the U.S.A. bid committee on information collection for Vancouver around B.C. Place. The bid is still in its early stages, and further details regarding the bid and VancouverB次元官网网址檚 involvement will be released as they come available.B次元官网网址�

B.C. Place Stadium has drawn sizable crowds for the Canada Sevens, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 stop on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. The two-day event drew total attendance of 77,096 in 2018.

The U.S. bid group says others cities interested in hosting are Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Birmingham, Ala.; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Cincinnati; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Minneapolis; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; New York/New Jersey; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Pittsburgh; San Diego; San Francisco Bay Area; Seattle; and Washington, D.C.

A USA Rugby spokesman said the bid group anticipates 10-12 host cities for the menB次元官网网址檚 tournament and six to eight for the womenB次元官网网址檚. The winning bid group selects the host cities in partnership with Rugby World Cup and World Rugby officials.

B次元官网网址淎 Rugby World Cup in the United States is a turning point for the game,B次元官网网址� USA Rugby CEO Ross Young said in a statement. B次元官网网址淎n exciting, unique, global sporting event of this scale on American soil for the first time has the potential to bring tried and true rugby fans, new supporters of the sport, U.S. fans and fans from around the world together through our great game.

B次元官网网址淭he Rugby World Cup also presents an incredible opportunity to unite our rugby communities and truly grow the sport from youth programs to our senior national teams B次元官网网址� injecting fan support and financial interest and creating a new generation of American rugby players.B次元官网网址�

France beat out South Africa and Ireland to host the 2023 menB次元官网网址檚 World Cup. New Zealand is hosting the next womenB次元官网网址檚 World Cup, which has been pushed back a year to 2022 due to the pandemic.

World Rugby has said the hosts of the 2025 and 2029 womenB次元官网网址檚 events and 2027 and 2031 menB次元官网网址檚 events will be decided by the World Rugby Council in May 2022. Candidates will have to candidates submit hosting agreements and guarantees in January 2022.

Australia is seen as a leading candidate for the menB次元官网网址檚 tournament in 2027 with England a contender for 2031. Russia has said it is interested in both.

World Rugby has suggested awarding bids for two World Cups simultaneously would allow the sportB次元官网网址檚 governing body to consider an established rugby nation for one and an emerging nation for the other.

In 2009, World Rugby awarded England and Japan the 2015 and 2019 menB次元官网网址檚 tournaments, respectively.

B次元官网网址擭eil Davidson, The Canadian Press