World Rugby appoints Megan Rose to lead Men’s Rugby World Cup 2031 in the US

World Rugby has appointed Megan Rose as Managing Director of Men’s Rugby World Cup 2031, a landmark leadership appointment as preparations gather pace to deliver an iconic event in the U.S, powering rugby’s domestic and global impact.

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.

The appointment comes as momentum continues to build behind the USA hosting programme. Twenty-five cities are currently progressing through the Rugby World Cup 2031 applicant phase, while international rugby continues to demonstrate the sport’s growing appeal across North America, with record attendances tumbling for every marquee match hosted in the US, culminating in 68 000 attending the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series final Test between South Africa and New Zealand in Baltimore last month.

The US 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.

A former professional tennis player, Rose is one of US sport’s leading major-event executives, with a proven track record of delivering high-profile global competitions, driving innovation and building commercial impact.

At the United States Tennis Association (USTA), Rose led globally renowned major events including the US Open Series, Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, served as Team Leader for Team USA Olympic Tennis at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 and pioneered the integration of professional wheelchair tennis into able-bodied operations. Most recently, she helped build and launch USTA Coaching, a new national coaching organisation for the US Tennis industry.

Rose said: "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 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."

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin added: "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 US project enters its next phase – an appointment that reflects the scale of our ambition. Her experience, vision and deep understanding of the US sports landscape make her ideally placed to deliver a defining chapter for rugby in the United States and around the world."

With more premium match content being played in the U.S than ever before, 25 highly engaged cities involved in the applicant process and, stakeholder engagement building and fan and media interest continuing to grow, the US is poised to provide an unprecedented stage for Rugby World Cups that will redefine the sport’s future and support the ambitions of its global growth strategy.