“World Rugby’s Groundbreaking Report Reveals Climate Change Impact on the Sport”
World Rugby has recently released a groundbreaking report that delves into the projected impacts of climate change on the sport of rugby. The report aims to shed light on the current and future effects of climate change on rugby as a whole, highlighting the significant consequences that are already being felt and are expected to worsen in the coming years.
As global temperatures continue to rise, with a projected 1.5-degree increase by 2026, the study reveals that climate change will have a profound impact on various aspects of rugby, including athlete performance, spectator health, turf pitches, and infrastructure. Heat waves will affect player performance and fan well-being, while droughts will impact turf pitches. Additionally, flooding and sea-level rise will pose challenges to infrastructure.
The report, titled “Rugby and Climate Change,” draws on climate projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), expert interviews, and data from 10 member unions of World Rugby. It examines six main climate hazards that directly and indirectly affect the sport, its athletes, spectators, infrastructure, and pitches, providing insights into the likely implications for rugby.
The study projects a surge in extreme heat days, an increase in drought frequency and intensity, a rise in heavy rainfall and floods, submersion risks for stadiums, amplified wind and cyclone activity in cyclone zones, and increased humidity levels that will impact athlete, official, and spectator well-being.
The report also includes an in-depth analysis of the impacts on 10 countries representative of World Rugby’s membership, such as Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA. It highlights the main consequences per climate region in a +2°C and +3°C scenario.
This initiative aligns with World Rugby’s Environmental Sustainability Plan 2030, which aims to promote sustainability in rugby through education, advocacy, and knowledge sharing. World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont emphasized the importance of raising awareness and taking collective action to address climate change within the rugby community.
Australian senator and former international rugby player David Pocock echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the urgent need to tackle climate change as an existential threat to the sport. He called for proactive measures to address the challenges posed by climate change and ensure the long-term sustainability of rugby.
The report concludes with six recommendations to enhance rugby’s resilience to climate change, including developing and implementing plans to reduce environmental impacts, researching adaptation strategies, and promoting climate change mitigation measures at a local level. World Rugby is already taking steps to implement these recommendations, with initiatives like T1 Rugby and sustainability workshops with member unions.
Moving forward, World Rugby will use the findings from the report to inform its long-term planning, including the organization of future events like the Rugby World Cup. By working collaboratively with stakeholders and taking proactive measures, World Rugby aims to make the sport more resilient in the face of climate change challenges.