Rugby World Cup could expand to 24 teams in 2023

World Rugby says four more teams could feature in France in 2023, expanding the Rugby World Cup from 20 to 24 teams.

As things stand Canada, Kenya, Hong Kong and Germany will be involved in a playoff event this year with the winners advancing to the 2019 tournament in Japan.

“We’re always looking from an expansive point of view, rather than reducing so it’s just a question of when rather than if,” said World Rugby’s chief executive, Brett Gosper.

"We just want to make sure the teams are competitive enough to move to a 24-team tournament. In order to grow the sport it’s about getting interest from new fans and commercial interest in new markets but you’ve got to make sure you’ve got the teams.”

Alan Gilpin, the man in charge of the 2019 World Cup, added: “We are definitely looking at expansion not contraction. We’d love to move to 24 teams.” Both also dismissed fears that next year’s potentially one-sided pool fixture between the repechage winners and New Zealand will undermine their case for expansion. “We are confident the team that qualifies will be competitive enough, even against the All Blacks,” said Gosper. “We’ll work hard with that team to make sure that team is well trained in advance.”