The inaugural Rugby World Club Cup will take place in 2028 after receiving unanimous backing from major leagues and unions, European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has confirmed.
The tournament will feature 16 teams, with eight qualifying through the Investec Champions Cup and the remaining slots filled by top clubs from Super Rugby and Japan. It will be held every four years.
EPCR chairman Dominic McKay announced the finalized plans in Cardiff ahead of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals. Discussions around the competition have been ongoing for “two or three years.”
The Champions Cup, launched in 1995, currently includes teams from England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa, and Italy. Both the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup will continue as regular fixtures, with McKay emphasizing that the new global tournament will enhance their prestige.
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“The Investec Champions Cup is the greatest club competition in the world, and we’re committed to protecting and growing it,” said McKay.
“With the World Club Cup in 2028 and 2032, we aim to elevate our existing tournaments by involving elite teams from Australia, New Zealand, and Japan,” he stated.
McKay added that further “ambitious plans” for European competitions will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
