World Cup expanding to 24 teams ‘a question of when rather than if’, says World Rugby boss Brett Gosper

The World Rugby chief executive did not rule out that the changes could be brought in for France 2023 but the following tournament would be more likely for the expansion

Brett Gosper expects the Rugby World Cup to expand to 24 teams in the near-future (Getty)

The 2019 Rugby World Cup could be the final edition of the tournament that is contested by 20 teams with organisers intent on expansion.

It may be as early as France 2023 that an additional four nations are represented, although the ensuing competition four years later is more likely as World Rugby look to increase the reach of the game.

Hong Kong, Germany, Kenya and the Cook Islands are among the sides who might benefit from any enlargement, but chief executive Brett Gosper is aware of an important balance that must be struck.

"We're always looking from an expansive point of view rather than reducing so it's just a question of when rather than if," World Rugby boss Gosper said.

"We want to make sure the teams are competitive enough to move to a 24-team tournament. We have assumed 20 for 2023 but we could change that between now and 2023.

"The tendency for us is to try and look to expand. It's about growing the global game – getting interest from fans and commercial interest in new markets.

"But you've got to make sure you've got the teams. We're definitely in an expansive mindset, is how I'd put it."

Strengthening the expansionist cause would be the less established teams surpassing expectations at Japan 2019.

"If those teams had a good tournament it would give courage and impetus to change," Gosper said.

World Rugby is keen to play down the prospect of a mismatch when the Pool B repechage winner – most likely Canada or Hong Kong – face all-conquering New Zealand in Oita on 2 October.

Gosper belileves it is a matter of time before the expansion happens (Getty)

"We'll work hard after that team qualifies to ensure they've got all the technical coaches they need – as we do for each World Cup," Gosper said.

"We are confident that team that qualifies will be competitive enough, even against the All Blacks."

The owners of the clubs that comprise Premiership Rugby meet in London on Tuesday to discuss an offer from private equity to give up 51 per cent of the league in exchange for £275m.

Although World Rugby have no involvement in any part of the process, the global game's governing body is monitoring developments closely.

"We're keeping appraised of the situation and are having conversations with the Rugby Football Union. We'll see how it plays out," Gosper said.

"It's an interesting occurrence but also a normal one. Elements of rugby are always in conversations about how they can raise the general funding of the sport to accelerate growth.

"We've been in conversations ourselves in the past - most areas of rugby are looking to find ways they can create expansion in right areas.

"It's a normal objective being sought there, but you have to weigh that extra money coming in with the cost to control that comes with it.

"That's one of the reasons we've never ventured into that area before and why we'd always be concerned about the exit plans of other investors."

PA