World Cup 2017 tender process opens

The tournament is being brought forward a year to 2017 to maximise synergy with the Olympic and Rugby World Cup Sevens cycles, allowing the world’s best players to compete on rugby’s biggest stages.

The event will return to a four-year cycle after 2017.

The tender process was ratified by World Rugby Council at its meeting in London last week.

Ireland are believed to be front runners to host the tournament in 2017 with England also likely to be potentially interested in hosting the tornament once again after doing so successfully in 2010.

World Rugby want the women's World Cup to be held in rugby-strong countries making bids from development nations unlikely to be considered.

Head of Rugby World Cup Alan Gilpin said: "This year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in France was a watershed moment for the women’s game. With record crowds, record TV audiences and the fantastic rugby on display, it really raised the bar for the sport.

"We’ve already had interest from a number of unions in hosting 2017, and judging from the media interest and crowd participation this year, I really believe it will be another fantastic event, wherever it takes place."

The tender process is now open for interested unions to apply, and World Rugby Council will make a decision on the host union at a scheduled meeting in May 2015.