Shock country lead the race to host 2035 Rugby World Cup, it's back in

Friday, 04 April 2025 at 14:04

byRugby Rucker

After the 2027 tournament in Australia and the 2031 World Cup in the USA, World Rugby is keen to bring the competition back to Europe.

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Spain is leading the charge, with Japan, Italy, and the Middle East also eyeing the prestigious event.

Alan Gilpin Talks Rotation

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin explained, “We’ve made some strategic decisions, taking the men’s and women’s tournaments to Australia and the US. Now, we need to think about the balance and whether we bring 2035 (men’s) and 2037 (women’s) back to Europe. It’s almost like a regional rotation – a new discussion for us.”

Spanish Support for Rugby

Spain, which has already qualified for the 2027 World Cup, is quickly becoming a rugby powerhouse. The Spanish Rugby Federation and the government are in talks with La Liga to potentially use their stadiums for the 2035 tournament.

Bernabeu & Nou Camp to Host?

Could the Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid, and the Nou Camp, home of Barcelona, host World Cup matches? It’s looking more likely as discussions move forward, with La Liga showing strong support.

Spain's Growing Rugby Presence

With Spain qualifying for 2027 and their rugby scene expanding, the country is positioned to make a huge impact on the world stage.

How 2027 Rugby World Cup draw could look based on current World Rankings

Seeding Pots Recap

Pot 1:
South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Argentina, England

Pot 2:
Scotland, Australia, Fiji, Italy, Georgia, Wales

Pot 3:
Japan, Samoa, USA, Spain, Uruguay, Portugal

Pot 4:
Tonga, Romania, Chile, Belgium, Hong Kong China, Canada

Random Draw – Six Groups of Four

Group	Pot 1	Pot 2	Pot 3	Pot 4
A	South Africa	Georgia	Portugal	Chile
B	Ireland	Australia	Samoa	Hong Kong China
C	France	Italy	Spain	Romania
D	Argentina	Scotland	Uruguay	Tonga
E	England	Wales	USA	Belgium
F	New Zealand	Fiji	Japan	Canada

Alun Wyn Jones and Owen Farrell included on list of worst British & Irish Lions

The British & Irish Lions is the pinnacle of a player's career – a chance to prove yourself against the very best. But not everyone rises to the occasion.

While some have cemented their legacies in red jerseys, others have left fans wondering how they even made the squad.

From unfortunate injuries to underwhelming performances, we take a look at some of the worst Lions players across different tours, with big names like Owen Farrell and Alun Wyn Jones making the cut.

2021 tour: Owen Farrell – The forgotten playmaker

Owen Farrell, one of the most recognisable and influential players in modern rugby, endured a tour to forget in South Africa. Despite his vast experience and reputation as a leader, Farrell was named by SA Rugby Mag as the worst-performing Lion on the tour.

Initially expected to play a key role, he started three games and featured off the bench in the first two Tests.

However, as the series decider loomed, head coach Warren Gatland made a brutal call – dropping Farrell from the matchday 23 entirely. It was a stark fall from grace for a player who was once considered indispensable.

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2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
4 x Night’s accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
7 x Night’s accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
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2017 tour: Stuart Hogg – A case of bad luck

Stuart Hogg was primed to be the Lions' Test full-back in 2017, but fate had other plans. The Scottish star suffered a freak injury in the third game of the tour against the Crusaders, colliding with Conor Murray’s elbow and fracturing his eye socket.

While injuries are unfortunate, Hogg’s Lions career as a whole was disappointing. He failed to make a significant impact on the 2013 or 2021 tours either, making him one of the most underwhelming repeat selections in Lions history.

2013 tour: Tom Court – The holiday call-up

If there was ever a Lions selection that left fans scratching their heads, it was Tom Court in 2013. The Ireland prop wasn’t even in the original squad – he was on holiday with his family when he got the call-up.

Thrown into the squad late, Court was never going to be a game-changer. He did manage to hold his own in the scrum against the Melbourne Rebels, but his inclusion remains one of the strangest in Lions history.

2009 tour: Alun Wyn Jones – A rare disaster for the legend

Alun Wyn Jones is a Lions legend – but his 2009 tour was anything but legendary. A young second-row at the time, he struggled against the formidable Springbok pack, leading Bleacher Report to rate his performances a dismal 4/10.

Jones was criticised for losing the ball in contact, looking out of his depth, and failing to impose himself physically. At times, he even looked "terrified" according to some reports. It was a rocky start to a Lions career that would later see him become one of the most respected captains in history.

2005 tour: Andy Titterrell – The most questionable selection?

The 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand was an unmitigated disaster, and some of the squad selections did little to help. Among the most baffling was Sale Sharks hooker Andy Titterrell, who had just two England caps to his name.

Sir Clive Woodward’s decision to take a bloated 44-man squad led to several left-field inclusions, but Titterrell stood out as particularly bizarre. Lacking the physicality and technical ability required at this level, he made little impact and was quickly forgotten.