Megan Rose Appointed as Managing Director By World Rugby To Head Men’s Rugby World Cup 2031

World Rugby announced that they have appointed Megan Rose as Managing Director of the Men’s Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2031.

Rose led the US Open Series, Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup for the United States Tennis Association (USTA), and has served as Team Leader for Team USA Olympic Tennis at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. She is also credited with pioneering the integration of professional wheelchair tennis into able-bodied operations.

World Rugby said in a statement that “Rose will lead delivery planning for the sport’s biggest and most ambitious Rugby World Cup to date and the first in one of the world’s most important sports markets, creating an unprecedented platform to accelerate rugby’s global growth.”

Rose said: “The Rugby World Cup is one of the iconic events in global sport, defined by unforgettable moments on the pitch and the passion of fans around the world. To be entrusted with bringing the Men’s Rugby World Cup to the United States for the first time is an extraordinary honour, and I’m thrilled to join this team.

This tournament represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring millions more Americans into the game and create a lasting impact for rugby in this country.

I look forward to working closely with USA Rugby, and the clubs, players, supporters, and stakeholders who have built rugby across the United States, alongside the global rugby community, to deliver an incredible Rugby World Cup and build something that lasts well beyond 2031.”

USA Rugby World Cup 2031

Currently, 25 cities are going through the Rugby World Cup 2031 applicant phase, but there remains a fair amount of anxiety and scepticism about the Men’s pinnacle tournament being hosted Stateside despite the governing body’s all-in approach.

World Rugby said that U.S .-hosted Rugby World Cups are “central to World Rugby’s strategic ambition to grow participation, audiences and commercial revenues by unlocking rugby’s full potential in sport’s biggest global market.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin commented: “The USA represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities in global sport, and Rugby World Cups 2031 and 2033 have the potential to transform rugby’s profile and reach on an unprecedented scale.

Megan is an outstanding leader with a proven track record of delivering world-class sporting events and driving innovation. She joins us at a pivotal moment as our U.S. project enters its next phase – an appointment that reflects the scale of our ambition. Her experience, vision and deep understanding of the U.S. sports landscape make her ideally placed to deliver a defining chapter for rugby in the United States and around the world.”

The MLR (Major League Rugby) in the US has shrunk significantly over the years, and 8 franchises have folded, seeing the league be reduced from 13 teams in 2022 to 5 active teams following the 2026 season.

The USA Men’s Team are in the Nations Cup and participated in the reduced Pacific Nations Cup 2026, where they came 4th out of four teams. There are also several legal disputes ongoing involving USA Rugby and National Collegiate Rugby

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