A report in the British newspaper, The Times, says a number of Middle Eastern countries are planning to submit a joint bid to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup.
The newspaper says that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are looking to host the sport’s global showpiece.
The next Rugby World Cup, scheduled for 2027, will be hosted by Australia, while the 2031 edition is set to be held in the United States.
Critics have said that the three Middle Eastern countries have no rugby culture or history of participation in the sport and that this is another example of “sportswashing” by dictatorships.
However, Planet Rugby, a website covering the game, has said that Spain is a favourite to host the 2035 tournament with World Rugby eager to help grow the game in that country.