The world of rugby is tackling climate change

World Rugby releases a new report on climate change

Have you ever considered the link between climate change and rugby? The sport’s governing body, World Rugby, recently released a report on how climate change could impact its future.

This report highlights the various climate risks rugby is subject to and will increasingly face in a warming world. These challenges open up the question of the sport’s resilience to climate change.

From New Zealand to France, World Rugby analyses how the looming threat of a two degree increase in global average temperatures could impact ten rugby nations all around the world.

The burning of coal, oil and gas, and ongoing deforestation are driving the extreme weather events we’re seeing impacting our communities. From heatwaves to bushfire smoke, lethal humidity, flooding and drought, rugby is not immune.

David Pocock, Australian Senator and former Professional Rugby Player

World Rugby speaks of the importance of achieving drastic and sustained emission reductions while also highlighting the need for climate adaptation measures to ensure the sport’s continuity.

The impact of climate change risks on rugby

Of the nations studied in this report, 60% would see a yearly increase of 10 or more additional extreme heat days where rugby could not be played.

On days when temperatures exceed 35°C, the combination of heat waves and increased humidity would seriously risk the health of athletes, spectators, and staff members.

Beyond the risks of heat stroke, these temperatures, paired with droughts, will impact turf pitches. As they lose their elasticity and dry up, the risk of rugby players getting injured also increases.

If clubs can’t irrigate their pitches in these conditions, this could have drastic commercial impacts due to delayed, postponed or cancelled matches.

In addition to the financial impact of lost revenues, climate change risks can be very costly for rugby clubs that must maintain and repair their infrastructure.

The increase in temperatures and frequency of droughts is not the only climate change risk that could negatively impact rugby, as floods and submersion also compromise the ability to host games.

With a two degree increase in global average temperatures, 10% of the stadiums they studied would be exposed to annual submersion risks, and 80% of the countries in the analysis would see a rise in the occurrence and intensity of flooding.

Rugby’s climate action ambitions

Submerged pitches due to rising sea levels and floods paired with hostile weather for players and fans is not the future of rugby we want to envision.

As the sport’s leading voice, World Rugby is encouraging clubs and competitions to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

To ensure the sport’s resilience, they are encouraging these organisations to adopt an approach similar to the one they have laid out in their 2030 Environmental Sustainability Plan.

The global rugby family is already grappling with the far-reaching consequences of climate change, and we have a collective responsibility as custodians of the sport from one generation to the next to tackle the challenges posed by these unprecedented environmental changes.

Sir Bill Beaumont, World Rugby Chairman

Through their report, they also aim to help the rugby world understand how climate change could impact the sport they love if climate inaction prevails.

Whether through regulatory or financial mechanisms, governing bodies such as World Rugby can incentivise their sport to develop ambitious climate plans.

As players and clubs start speaking out and taking action, we hope these initiatives will spread throughout rugby to ensure a resilient future for the sport.