Could Uruguay's success threaten Australia's 2027 World Cup bid?

The night Uruguay's team of semi-professional players felled the Flying Fijians at Kumaishi Stadium in Japan's far north, the rugby world celebrated.

This was the youngest team at the Rugby World Cup (average age 25.9), ranked 18th in the world, closing the gap between tier one and two nations.

Triumphant Uruguayan players celebrate with the crowd after their stunning defeat of Fiji.Credit: AP

It was the first of two major upsets in the opening two weeks of the tournament, trumped only by Japan's 19-12 win over Ireland a few days later.

But the rise of rugby in the Americas – the term used to describe the emerging national teams in North and South America – could have implications for Australia's bid to host a second World Cup in 2027.

Australia were one of the earliest to declare their interest in hosting rights for 2027 and this year secured $1 million in federal government funding for a feasibility study into the bid.

“We have been on the record since late 2017 noting our interest in bidding for the 2027 RWC,” Rugby Australia head of professional rugby Anthony French said.

“Earlier this year we were fortunate to receive support from the Australian government to undertake some foundation planning. This will enable RA to scope out the viability and possibility of bidding for a RWC.

“What we do know is that Australia is a great sporting nation and major events market and if we do move forward with a bid and were to be successful, we would put on a great show.”

The formal process does not open until mid-next year, with a vote expected in 2021. But Australia could be up against Argentina, who said in 2016 they would bid for the tournament, and the USA, over whom World Rugby seems to be salivating.

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper revealed last month the US had submitted expressions of interest for the 2027 and 2031 tournaments.

"It’s a hard one to predict, but I think the sport should be considering the move to North America," Gosper said in Tokyo at the start of the World Cup.

"It gives us interesting growth possibilities and individuals in the American system have expressed an interest.

"They’ve got a Major League now and there are some high net-worth individuals investing in sport over there.

"It would certainly accelerate some possibilities in that part of the world, which would be good for everyone because the revenue would go back into the game."

At the same media opportunity Gosper also raised the prospect of a two-in-one vote, meaning the hosts for 2027 and 2031 would be decided together.

"What’s being considered next time is choosing two World Cups – like we did with England and Japan – so we can make a bolder decision and a traditional decision," he said.

"If we do that, there are many territories we could look at. We’ve got 2027 and 2031 to decide. 2031 could give time for an American bid to be very credible and very strong."

Uruguay's success, on the back of Argentina's consistent performance at Super Rugby and Test level, could reflect favourably on any forthcoming bids from either of those nations.

"The performances from a World Cup give you energy and momentum and the kinds of performances we are seeing from Uruguay and Argentina will only help continue to build traction and awareness in their countries," Rugby Americas chief executive Dan Payne said.

"Uruguay will only grow from here, you heard it in their captain's voice when they beat Fiji. He said 'we may not be the tallest and we may not be the biggest' but they have the passion and the pride to make up for both."

Payne runs the Americas equivalent of SANZAAR. An administrative body charged with advancing the interests of the member unions, their primary goal is establishing competitions that will develop the playing, coaching and refereeing stocks in the region and inspire the next generation of players.

By any metric, the project is a success, thanks in large part to the behind-the-scenes advocacy of Pumas great and World Rugby vice chairman Agustin Pichot and the unions’ shrewd call to work as a bloch.

Major League Rugby – the second attempt at a professional league in the US – is entering its third season, while a South American version of the competition taking in clubs from Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and potentially Chile and Paraguay is expected to be announced soon.

At Test level, Rugby Americas runs the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC), pitting Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, the US, Canada and an Argentina XV against each other in an annual competition.

"There has been three times more rugby shown on screens in North and South America in the last 12 months than in any year previously," Payne said.

"The ARC registered 10 million impressions across all its platforms and that's the result of all six unions aligning together with the help of World Rugby's platforms."

With this year's World Cup on the horizon, Payne also organised for players from South American nations to attend a scouting camp in the US in October last year. The result was professional contracts for 10 Uruguayan players – all of whom were involved in last week's Fiji upset – three Brazilians and two Chileans.

Uruguay centre Andres Vilaseca was one of those players, moving to Austin, Texas, to link with the Austin Elite.

Vilaseca believed the World Cup will head to American shores sooner rather than later.

“This was the second season (of MLR) and they already have three or four new teams for next year,” he said.

”The USA put a show on for everything, they’re the best at that (sports entertainment), they’re investing a lot of money in it and I think they’re going to grow fast.

“It’s a really good opportunity for us. Club rugby in Uruguay is getting better but it’s not professional. Part of our World Cup preparation was joining MLR.

“I was playing with Canadians, South Africans, French, Americans and we were three Uruguayans. It was a good experience.”