8 major Dubai changes happening this September

Rugby enthusiasts have been considering the potential for staging major events in the Middle East, particularly in light of the Rugby World Cup bid being delayed. The 2019 World Cup in Japan proved to be a major success, drawing over 857 million global viewers and generating significant revenue. However, staging a rugby World Cup in the Gulf region, which has a vastly different population density and rugby culture, would present unique challenges.

Despite this, some believe that bringing elite Test rugby to the Middle East could be a valuable first step in building a foundation for the sport's future in the region. The idea was floated in the past, but never came to fruition. Nonetheless, the popularity of an exhibition match in Dubai involving Springbok legends suggests that there is interest in rugby in the region.

Even the annual Dubai Sevens, an exhibition rugby tournament, draws nearly 90,000 fans across three days. This provides a potential audience for a Test match between South Africa and New Zealand, which is set to take place in Baltimore this weekend as part of a plan to generate interest in the sport in the United States.