SA to host World Cup Sevens?
2 Jun 2006
Nine countries – including South Africa – are vying to host the 2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that a record number of countries have formally expressed an interest to host the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009.
IRB Member Unions Arabian Gulf, Australia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and the USA have all informed the IRB of their interest to tender for the tournament that for the first time ever will incorporate a women’s competition.
“The International Rugby Board is delighted that nine Unions have expressed an interest in tendering for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009,” said International Rugby Board Chairman, Dr Syd Millar.
“This unprecedented level of interest for a Rugby World Cup clearly reflects the importance of this tournament in the world sporting calendar and also the continuing growth of Rugby Sevens on the international stage.”
Tender documents will be sent to each of the Unions outlining the hosting criteria for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009. The Unions will have until September 29 to confirm their intention to tender.
The IRB Council will select the Host Union for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 at its April 2007 meeting.
22 Comments
2 Jun 2006, 07:54 am
Knock knock
2 Jun 2006, 07:59 am
I’d vote for you guys SA…but I’d tell Aussie I’m voting for them until the last minute, Nz and Oz being such good mates and all.
2 Jun 2006, 08:09 am
Anybody wants to bet against the US?
Even so, good idea to spread the game…
2 Jun 2006, 08:40 am
A world cup that will be over in 2 days.
I dont know whether many sponsors will be too keen to come to the party.
2 Jun 2006, 08:42 am
SARU will have to clean house first, otherwise we’ll lose this bid as well.
2 Jun 2006, 08:42 am
A world cup worthy of noting is the soccer.
It is gonna be good.
freakin heck it has got the aussies going they already got venues and beers organised.
Bugger they know how it is done but at the end of the day they dont care if they get booted.
2 Jun 2006, 10:07 am
If S.A gets this world cup, maybe sarfu will pay some more attention to SA sevens.
2 Jun 2006, 10:38 am
As the W
2 Jun 2006, 10:39 am
Aus has my vote
NZ Stadia is too small.
SA Don’t care
Europe cares even less
Fiji is a no way
Outside of Hong Kong, where do you hold a competition where the crowd party like they do in Wellington. No where!
So next best is Aus. Close enough for Kiwi’s to travel along with the the traditional supporters of 7′s – The PI, Fiji in particular.
Any notion Europe, North America, South America or Africa are interested in what happens outside of when the circus hits their town is a joke.
2 Jun 2006, 10:39 am
As the World XV game has shown its difficult to get Saffas to stump up their cash these days. perhaps economics mean that not only do the big name players go overseas but so do the big competitions
2 Jun 2006, 10:47 am
post8.
A premature ejeculation there Stmich.
2 Jun 2006, 10:54 am
StMichel
What a defeatist and cowardarly comment.
So the “World” couldn’t put up a decent team because the cash to assemble a team was insufficient.
For goodness sakes the cash the RFU put up is so poor they can’t even pay the gym fees for your outfit in the weeks before they come down south.
How else do you explain the lack of form. Surely isn’t you can’t blame the Heineken Cup, Jeez your lot were out of it ages ago.
Crikey, even pet rats could have several brood of offspring before most of your outfit could pull on their boots for a test after finishing the season. That is just sad.
No, I will stick to Aus as my choice.
2 Jun 2006, 10:58 am
okay
I will accept I have to major failings.
1. I never edit
2. I don’t care
2 Jun 2006, 10:59 am
It should be held in Hong Kong. And it should continue to be held in HK until someone else can run a better tournament.
At least the **** are not putting their hats in the ring. Seeing their lack of dignity when they lost the 15 aside RWC vote was enough.(actually, it was great TV).
But anyway, Good Luck SA. I’m sure you’d put on a good show. At least you have a tradition of rugby.
2 Jun 2006, 11:06 am
Brads,
Your failing are minor compared to Stmich.
He needs serious help. His delusions/hallucinations/fantasies seen to be getting further and further from reality.
2 Jun 2006, 12:02 pm
I think it would be great if the Kenyans got it.
They are into the game and are not too shoddy.
Go KENYA!
2 Jun 2006, 12:06 pm
I reckon Fiji would be a blast – aside from the manic local support – it would be a bit of an island vaction for supporters, raise some much needed cash for the islands rugby [ seen the IRB couldn't give a hoot ]
NZ been done, SA been done, England and Europe are about as exciting as a plank…..
Kenya would also be a good one……
2 Jun 2006, 13:39 pm
Iggy,
The problem I see is that Fiji have not put there hand up!
But yes, nowhere would be more befitting.
2 Jun 2006, 14:04 pm
Iggy,
If you want to give a cash boost to the Islands have it in England where you’ll maximise revenue shad share the proceeds better
3 Jun 2006, 05:14 am
you only need one stadium or maybe two as they are hosting the womens tourney at the same time. Big venues are unnecessary for sevens. Regarding NZ’s small stadiums it didn’t stop the idiots on the IRB council voting for them to hold the main world cup
UAE if they can come up with a permanent venue (Dubai Exiles is a temporary stadium good for the Dubai 7s which is up there with hong kong as the best tournament on the circuit but you will probably need a proper stadium to win the bid) , which i know they can or the US has my vote. The sheikh doesn’t go in half arsed when it comes to bidding for events.
3 Jun 2006, 10:14 am
USA gets my vote, if the main rugby competition goes to the heavyweights of world rugby, then use the sevens as the tool to spread the game. USA for me and Dubai a close second.
3 Jun 2006, 16:32 pm
To have it in the US they will have to spend shed loads on promoting it. The LA sevens is slowly growing, will probably take a few more years to get full crowds in the current venue plus the sevens venues are up for review.
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