World Rugby

https://www.world.rugby/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-rugby/

World Rugby, a privately owned entity headquartered in Ireland, founded in 1886 with approximately 450 employees, reported $46.1M in revenue as of 2024. As a tier 1 media tech buyer, the company specializes in spectator sports. Functioning as the world governing and law making body for the game of rugby union, it oversees the sport globally.

2024 Revenue

Founded

1886

Headcount

445

Headquarters

Ireland

Primary Segment

Spectator Sports

Ownership

Privately Owned

News Summary:

World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson revealed on April 24, 2026, that the organization would not rescue the embattled Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacific outfit, following news last week that the team faced axing from the competition due to financial burdens. Robinson had fiercely defended World Rugby's investment in the Pacific on April 23, while reiterating the stance against a direct rescue. On April 21, former IRFU referees boss Owen Doyle criticized World Rugby's global trial of not calling crooked lineout throws, labeling it an "abject failure" and warning that the set-piece was in "grave danger" of losing its contest for possession. Earlier, on April 19, a senior World Rugby figure indicated that Hong Kong could receive an invitation to compete in their flagship Sevens within three years, attributing the city team's current lack of competitive opportunities to sporting meritocracy. This followed criticism on April 17 from legendary All Blacks flanker Michael Jones, who called World Rugby’s current eligibility rules "archaic," suggesting unions adopt rules similar to rugby league to prevent losing "hearts and minds" to league in New Zealand, particularly among Pacific Islanders.

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World Rugby offers 16 products in the sports and media and telecoms services industries. World Rugby's product portfolio comprises of sports tickets, merchandise and sponsorship, media and TV services and contact sports.

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World Rugby's revenues were less than $100M in 2024. Caretta Research has split World Rugby's revenue into 4 different product categories, the largest of which is sponsorship and merchandise. For full access to World Rugby's revenue breakdown subscribe to Caretta Portal.

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May

1st

2026

12:30

Partnerships and Alliances, New Offerings, Emerging Tech, B2B Tag

Sportico Transactions: Moves and Mergers Roundup for May 1

Welcome to Sportico’s transactions wire, a weekly rundown of personnel, partnerships and products across the sports business industry. PERSONNEL BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing Appoints Will Wright as COO BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing announced the appointment of Will Wright as chief operating officer.

Sportico

May

1st

2026

08:29

Events, Sports Rights Updates, B2B Tag

World Rugby and IMG Forge Strategic Media Partnership to Drive U.S. Growth Ahead of 2031 & 2033 World Cups

CARDBIZ (April 30, 2026) World Rugby and global sports marketing agency IMG have entered into a long-term media rights partnership aimed at supercharging rugby’s expansion in the United States and worldwide, in preparation for the historic Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2033—both hosted in the U.S. for the first time.

CardBiz Canada

Apr

30th

2026

21:57

Events, Sports Rights Updates, B2B Tag

IMG and World Rugby Enter Strategic Media Rights Partnership

IMG and World Rugby have agreed to a long-term media rights partnership with the intention of accelerating rugby’s growth in the United States ahead of the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033.

Rugby Asia 247

Apr

30th

2026

11:59

Events, Sports Rights Updates, B2B Tag

World Rugby and IMG announce strategic media rights partnership to accelerate global growth

World Rugby and global sports marketing agency IMG have agreed to a long-term media rights partnership designed to further accelerate rugby’s growth in the United States and globally ahead of the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033.

SVG Europe

Apr

26th

2026

20:09

B2B Tag

Tom Robinson: Following the footsteps of Rugby’s most powerful man

Tom Robinson can find the funny side of being the son of World Rugby Chair and Wallabies legend Brett. “I wouldn't say he's the most powerful man in rugby, that probably feeds his ego a bit,” he says and laughs.

Australian Rugby

Apr

26th

2026

18:30

Awards and Recognitions, B2B Tag

Dimitri Yachvili and Marcelo Bosch join the prestigious men’s panel for World Rugby Awards

World Rugby has today confirmed the appointment of Dimitri Yachvili and Marcelo Bosch as new members of the voting panel for the World Rugby Awards men’s 15s categories, further strengthening the peer-led jury that recognises excellence at the highest level of the international game.

World Rugby

Apr

26th

2026

18:30

Awards and Recognitions, B2B Tag

Dimitri Yachvili and Marcelo Bosch join the prestigious men’s panel for World Rugby Awards

World Rugby

Apr

24th

2026

04:04

Capital Investment, B2B Tag

World Rugby boss' blunt verdict on Moana Pasifika rescue: 'It's not our job'

World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson has revealed that his organisation will not come to the rescue of the embattled Super Rugby Pacific outfit Moana Pasifika. It was revealed last week that Moana would be axed from Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the current campaign due to the financial burden placed on them.

PlanetRugby

Apr

23rd

2026

18:30

Capital Investment, B2B Tag

World Rugby chair responds to Moana Pasifika struggles

World Rugby chair Brett Robinson has fiercely defended the organisation's investment in the Pacific, but says it's not their job to rescue the embattled Moana Pasifika. Moana Pasifika are among the 10 teams in Christchurch for Super Round at the city's new One NZ Stadium.

1 News

Apr

21st

2026

04:04

B2B Tag

Ex-refs boss blasts World Rugby trial as ‘abject failure’ and calls out ‘chumminess’ that ‘serves no purpose at all’

Former IRFU referees boss Owen Doyle has called on World Rugby to rescind its global trial of not calling crooked lineout throws, otherwise he believes the set-piece out of touch is in “grave danger” of going the same way as the scrum and no longer being a contest for possession.

PlanetRugby

Apr

19th

2026

18:30

B2B Tag

Get better or stay in the sevens circuit wilderness, rugby chief tells Hong Kong

Hong Kong could be invited to compete with the big guns in their own flagship Sevens within three years, but the city team have only sporting meritocracy to blame for their current lack of competitive opportunities, according to a senior World Rugby figure.

South China Morning Post China

Apr

17th

2026

02:12

Regulatory and Legal, B2B Tag

All Blacks legend slams World Rugby's 'archaic' eligibility rules that holds the game back

Legendary All Blacks flanker Michael Jones believes that unions need to adopt eligibility rules more akin to rugby league, dubbing World Rugby’s current laws as archaic. The 1987 World Cup-winning back-rower says that union is losing the battle of ‘hearts and minds’ to league in New Zealand and particularly among Pacific Islanders.

PlanetRugby

Examples of World Rugby's suppliers include Lawo, Hawk-Eye Innovations and Endeavor Streaming.

Example Suppliers

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World Rugby sells broadcasting rights of its 13 rugby Union competitions to 68 companies globally, covering 19 countries. World Rugby's rights holders include Telefonica. World Rugby currently holds 7 broadcasting rights for sports competitions including rugby league and rugby union.

Analysis

Data

Analysis

Data

World Rugby

2024 Revenue

Founded

Headcount

Headquarters

Primary Segment

Ownership

News Summary:

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