The Churchill Cup Rugby Background

Backgroundfor the Churchill Cup Rugby tournament

 

Churchill Cup background

The Churchill Cup is an alliance between the English Rugby Football Union (RFU), Rugby Canada and USA Rugby.

The tournament was launched in 2003 and aims to develop and grow the sport of rugby union across Canada and the USA.

It is named after former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who shared close ties with the United States - his mother was American - and with Canada during the Second World War.

With support from the International Rugby Board, as part of their Rugby World Cup-funded strategic initiatives, the tournament has grown in success since 2003 when 5,000 people attended to watch the three Alliance nations in Vancouver.

In 2008, when the tournament was played in Canada and USA, the finals day in Chicago attracted more than 9,000 spectators.

Since its introduction, both men's and women's teams from England, USA and Canada have participated although since 2005 it has been a men only event.

Invitational sides from Argentina, Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand have all participated, while there was also a women's competition in 2003 and 2004.