Megan Rose appointed to lead 2031 Rugby World Cup in United States

World Rugby has appointed Megan Rose as managing director of the 2031 men's Rugby World Cup in the United States. RugbyPass reported that the former professional tennis player will lead delivery planning for the tournament's first American edition.

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Host-city selection will be an early responsibility. According to RugbyPass, 25 cities are competing to stage matches, with an announcement expected in early 2027. Rose will help select the hosts alongside Ross Young, World Rugby's general manager for US operations.

Rose brings experience spanning competition, coaching and sports administration. A USTA biography identifies her as a former NCAA All-American and Princeton University head coach who also held roles at the Women's Tennis Association. Before her work in coach development, she managed major USTA events, including the US Open Series and other championships. Her background therefore includes both tournament operations and direct work with players.

At USTA Coaching, Rose has served as managing director and head of business development and operations, overseeing operations, coach recruitment and retention, and industry engagement. The organisation's published biography also lists recognition from Sports Business Journal and the Leaders Under 40 programme. Those responsibilities have placed her in a role combining the running of a sports organisation with efforts to expand and support its workforce.

Her recent work has included addressing barriers to coaching careers. In March, USTA Coaching and the University of Minnesota's Tucker Center published a report examining how pay, promotion opportunities and workplace culture affect women's retention. Rose argued that sports organisations needed to improve how coaching jobs are structured and supported, rather than focus only on recruiting more women. USTA Coaching also introduced a 10-month leadership programme for 25 women coaches, covering leadership development, financial literacy and career longevity.

For the World Cup, Rose told RugbyPass she intends to consult host-city committees, USA Rugby and Major League Rugby executives. She also plans to draw on Australian tournament organiser Chris Stanley's experience. Her stated aim is to build lasting American interest in rugby beyond the competition itself.