Record number bid for World Cup
1 Oct 2008
The IRB has announced that a record number of unions have confirmed their intention to tender for the right to host either 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales will tender for the 2015 event, while Australia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Wales formally confirmed their commitment to host the 2019 tournament.
Each nation now has until 8 May 2009 to submit their detailed bids – before making a formal presentation to the IRB board. A final decision on the venues will then be made in July 2009.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset has been very impressed by the response and believes the strong showing indicates how much the competition has grown.
“This strong response is unprecedented and truly reflects the global attraction of the Rugby World Cup tournament. It also reflects the significant economic benefits that accompany the hosting of a tournament that has grown in stature and prominence as a global event. Rugby World Cup is now firmly established as one of the world’s top five sporting events,” said Lapasset.
“For the first time the IRB will award two tournaments at the same time. This provides longer term certainty for the hosts, Rugby World Cup Limited and the tournament’s commercial partners. It also ensures that future development investment initiatives in the game worldwide can continue to be underwritten by the tournament and planned accordingly.”
54 Comments
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2 Oct 2008, 03:36 am
#44 BlackPanther:
Panther does it surprise you to have people recoil in fear from something they know nothing about & then repeat rumours (probably started by Stephen Jones) as to it’s detriment on “proper rugby” ?
These are the “World is flat” brigade – very simple to them … change is bad
2 Oct 2008, 12:40 pm
#48 Big Hit:
Nice self-analysis, you are showing some maturity for once.
2 Oct 2008, 12:56 pm
#51 Rugby_Princess:
Im always staggered by how people happily adopt others opinions as their own. This is particularly pertinent with sports journos in UK, S.Jones being the most obvious but by-no-means only example (eg Brian Moore, S.Barnes). They complained about the ELVs even before theyd seen them played let alone actually introduced here. And to then talk to club-members it was like they were rattling off those same opinions verbatum.
Ask a Safa or a Kiwi about rugby and every man, woman and child would have an opinion. These English twits just feel more comfortable spouting someone elses opinions because they know it somehow makes them sound knowledgeable whereas, in fact, they know shite. Thats why its wasted energy getting tooooo wound up, for every Big Twit there are generations abound with the same unfounded gripes.
Thats what allows them to whinge and moan about NZ ‘stealing’ the 2011 RWC yet when it comes to backroom deals NOONE out-OldBoysNetworks the Brits !!! As I say, if there are bigger hypocrites out there I am yet to meet them.
3 Oct 2008, 05:01 am
#53 BlackPanther:
People “adopting” opinions almost invariably do it for one of two reasons – insufficient knowledge of the topic to speak intelligently on it or insufficient spine to back their own thought process … Okay perhaps a third – insuficient IQ to develop a thought process long enough to drawn an actual conclusion.
Perhaps my failing is not having the patience to engage someone pedalling a third or fourth hand opinion
I simply employ my favourite four lettered word … next.
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