World Rugby names former tennis player and USTA executive Megan Rose managing director as the men's Rugby World Cup heads to American soil for the first time.
World Rugby has made its pick to steer the biggest show in the sport's calendar: Megan Rose, a former professional tennis player who went on to become an executive at the United States Tennis Association, will serve as managing director of the 2031 men's Rugby World Cup.
The appointment arrives as the tournament prepares for its first-ever staging in the United States. By some measures, the event will rank as the third-biggest global sporting occasion ever held on American soil, so the stakes for whoever leads the project are enormous.
Rose, who brings experience from both the court and the boardroom, did not hide her enthusiasm. She described the Rugby World Cup as one of the iconic events in global sport, shaped by unforgettable moments on the pitch and the passion of fans around the world. Being trusted to deliver it in the US for the first time, she said, is an extraordinary honour, and she is thrilled to join the team.
For World Rugby, the hire signals serious intent. Pairing an athlete's perspective with big-event leadership credentials from one of America's most established sporting bodies shows the governing body wants a fresh voice guiding its push into a market it has long targeted for growth. The countdown to 2031 now has a leader, and the work of building a tournament worthy of the American stage begins.
