A letter from US President Joe Biden expressing strong support for USA’s bid to host the 2031 men’s Rugby World Cup and 2033 women’s World Cup was part of a final bid package submitted by USA Rugby, the federation said.

The World Rugby Council will vote on 12 May to determine the official host union for the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups.

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said in March that he believed the $500-million partnership plan with the USA to host the events are “actually essential for our plans to keep rugby growing as a world sport”.

Jim Brown, chair of the USA Rugby bid group, said organisers are in talks with 28 cities and 31 possible stadiums as host venues with the forecasted expense “generally understood … in the half-billion-dollar mark – plus or minus $100 million”.

In his letter to World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont, Biden says the USA “strongly supports the effort to bring the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup Tournament and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup Tournament to our country and looks forward to working with Rugby World Cup Limited to help deliver the most successful Rugby World Cups in history”.

Biden said governmental guarantees sought by World Rugby would be “executed by officials who have the competence and authority” to do so, or in co-operation with states and private entities.

Biden is a well-known rugby fan and a supporter of Ireland. Former Ireland and British & Lions fullback Rob Kearney is a distant cousin of the president.

© Agence France-Presse