LONDON: The ARU is fighting to avoid being blown into World Cup oblivion as chief executive Bill Pulver conceded Australia might not host rugby's showpiece event until 2031 unless they launch a late bid to win rights to the tournament before then.
Pulver said officials had already canvassed plans to bring the World Cup back to Australia for the first time since 2003 and would monitor the bid process for tournaments in 2023 and 2027. 
Pulver also said he wanted to continue his five-year plan for Australian rugby, declaring he wants to see out the last two years of his contract and give the sport stability at the top.
The Wallabies appear to be ushering in a new era under coach Michael Cheika and his team played in the World Cup quarter-final against Scotland on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT).
But the prospect of capitalising on any momentum gained by hosting the World Cup between now and 2031 appeared slim with Pulver conceding Australia needs to "fire our best shot".
The 2019 World Cup will be staged in Japan and if the current trend continues, a tournament in the northern hemisphere would follow in 2023.
That would leave Australia to battle South Africa and potentially Argentina for hosting rights in 2027. Pulver said the ARU were desperate to secure the event before 2031.
England and New Zealand both had 24 years between hosting their first and second World Cups. Australia would have to wait 28 years if unsuccessful until 2031.
"We're eager to bring it to Australia, we're eager to get it back. Australia hosts a superb World Cup," Pulver said.
"But when you look at the southern hemisphere, South Africa is going to bid pretty aggressively for 2023 and beyond.
"It depends which way World Rugby goes, with swapping between northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere hosts, and maybe 2031 is the best option.
"That seems a long, long way down the track. But what you don't want to do is just bid for every tournament, you want to make sure it works."
Hosting the 2003 tournament gave the ARU a $40 million injection and another financial boost would be crucial to the future of the game.
But it would also potentially expose Australian rugby to renewed financial pressures, considering the prohibitive cost of hosting the World Cup. 
Australia declined to bid for the 2011 event, citing unreasonable financial demands from Rugby World Cup Ltd.
But the new broadcast deal, which is expected to provide a $40 million boost to the code's coffers, could have changed the mood at ARU headquarters. Pulver has been meeting with World Rugby and SANZAR officials in London to discuss television revenue from the impending deal and the potential locations for future tournaments.
England is feeling the financial pinch of being the first host nation in World Cup history to be knocked out of the tournament before the quarter-finals.
Coach Stuart Lancaster faces being sacked after a review and England is taking an economic hit as locals tune out of the tournament.
Pulver said that had not deterred Australia's plans to regain hosting rights in the future as rugby fights with the NRL, AFL and A-League for market space.
"We're monitoring everything very, very carefully, and what I will say with confidence is that we are very, very keen to get the World Cup back on our shores," Pulver said.
"I'm not sure if we'll bid for 2023. You don't want to put your hand up all the time and dilute your impact. We will go for the occasion where we think we are most likely to win it."
Pulver hoped a new Super Rugby broadcast deal would be "imminent", with six of the required 11 contracts signed. But the television rights saga has dragged on for almost a year and remains uncertain four months before kick-off.
Pulver has been the ARU chief executive for the past three years and has a contract until the end of 2017.
He faced pressure to retain his job last year in the fallout of Ewen McKenzie's decision to quit as coach and the Di Patston-Kurtley Beale text message drama.
When asked if he wanted to stay in the job beyond the end of this year, Pulver said: "Yes I do. I'm enjoying it, I think we're making good progress.
"There are still things I want to do in Australian rugby, definitely. I basically signed up for five years, I'm a few years into that and I'm definitely keen to stay on."