Hispanic competition for Spain as Argentina bid for Rugby World Cup

Spain Rugby World Cup 2035 to be challenged by Argentina

 

The UAR have officially announced their bid for the Rugby World Cup 2035, with a meeting between Argentinian Rugby President Félix Páez Molina and World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin set to take place in Argentina. However, it creates a Hispanic rival to Federación Española de Rugby´s own bid for the 2035 Rugby World Cup, with FER President Juan Carlos Martín Sánchez (Hansen) having announced the bid back on Christmas Day 2025 (See below).

 

𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐳 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐝 familia del rugby español 🎄🏉

🗣️ @Carloshansen2, presidente de la 𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐑#LoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/586bZ1NCiy

— España Rugby (@ferugby) December 25, 2025

 

Spain Rugby World Cup 2035 – A compelling case

 

No sooner had Spain breathed a sign on relief on the pitch by defeating Romania 29-23 in the Rugby Europe Championship 2026 third place final than the competition was heating up off the pitch as well. Spain´s extensive infrastructure and proximity to major European Rugby Nations who won´t have had the ease of travelling to a European World Cup for over a decade by 2035. Crucially, games will all take place within a prime TV market for France and England, two significant markets for sponsors and advertisers alike.

 

Not only can Spain offer this, but the prospect of being 10 further years down the line on the now emerging path of Spanish players littering the Top 14 will further enhance the team, offering the sport a real chance at a brand new market in a populous country.

 

 

Carrot or Stick towards World Rugby?

 

Still, there may be cause for concern with the official organ/mouthpiece of World Rugby  (in the shape of RugbyPass) giving the Argntinian Rugby World Cup 2035 bid extensive coverage and with Argentina firmly established as a Tier 1 nation, World Rugby may see this as the time to strike. Of course, this could´ve been avoided by not having the USA host what could be an unfulfilling 2031 Rugby World Cup.
 
In terms of the relationship between Spain and World Rugby, noone has done more to rebuild the bridges bridges burned after Spain´s World Cup excommunication than Hansen himself. Always keen to emphasise how World Rugby see Spain as a growing market with a bright future, this collobaration can be demonstrated in Spain holding a HSBC svns tournament in May 2026. Spain will also host the Champions Cup Final and another Top 14 game this season, boosting the profile of the sport.
 
However, the potential Spain Rugby World Cup will be the real test for World Rugby. If not , it may precipitate the need for Spanish Rugby to demand genuine extractions of value in the shape of Tier 1 internationals or start to close the door to other nations and competitions, which are taking value from the Spanish market but returning little.