ðə kˌɑːmpətˈɪʃən wʌz fˈʌndᵻd baɪ ðɪ ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl ɹˈʌɡbi bˈoːɹd ˌaɪˌɑːɹbˈiː, ænd wʌz pˈɑːɹt ʌv ðɛɹ θɹˈiːjˈɪɹ ɡlˈoʊbəl stɹətˈiːdʒɪk ɪnvˈɛstmənt pɹˈoʊɡɹæm wˌɪtʃ wʌz dɪzˈaɪnd tʊ ɪŋkɹˈiːs ðə kəmpˈɛɾᵻtˌɪvnəs ʌv ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl ɹˈʌɡbi jˈuːniən ɪn kˈænədə ænd ðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts.
The competition was funded by the International Rugby Board (IRB), and was part of their three-year global strategic investment programme which was designed to increase the competitiveness of international rugby union in Canada and the United States.