Sevens granted Olympic status
9 Oct 2009
An overwhelming vote in favour of rugby sevens has seen the sport admitted to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The International Olympic Committee announced the admission of rugby sevens and golf on Friday. Golf returns after 112 years, while rugby was last played at the Olympics in 1924 in its 15-a-side form.
IOC Members voted 63-27 for golf, and 81-8 in favour of rugby. IRB president Bernard Lapasset said this was an important moment in rugby’s history.
‘The Olympic Games will be the pinnacle of the sport for all our athletes and the rugby family. The best men’s and women’s players in the world are excited to be able to showcase their talent on the world’s greatest sporting stage.
‘We are now looking forward to working in partnership with the IOC to develop and implement a rugby sevens tournament in Rio that will reach out to new audiences and inspire a new generation of sports fans around the world,’ said Lapasset.
Paul Treu, whose Springbok Sevens outfit captured the series title earlier this year, said this decision will change the face of the code forever.
‘I have been waiting for this for a long time and have got plenty of plans, some that I have already started on. Obviously we’ll need buy-in from the national sports departments but I’m confident of that.
‘Governments are now going to be pumping in so much money into the sport in order to get gold, so you are going to get that many more countries starting to play sevens.
‘In fact I was talking to one of the US Sevens management guys just yesterday and he was a bit disillusioned about lack of funds and plans etc, and I told him to just wait until the announcement, things will take off then.’
Treu added that he expects the USA to become a bigger force in the build up to rugby’s Olympic return in 2016.
‘The US has a vast pool of talent. There are NFL guys out there who just can’t make the cut, but they run close to sub 10-seconds for the 100 metres. Imagine [the possibilities] once you harness that talent.’
161 Comments
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9 Oct 2009, 23:06 pm
Hello girls.
9 Oct 2009, 23:07 pm
#100 skopskiet: And here I am just trying to make a living, see the Boks win and drink some fine wine and eat some good foods and enjoy my time with my wife & kids.
If it’s all over I think I will have to step up the dopping.
9 Oct 2009, 23:09 pm
Bloody fantastic to see 7′s in the Olympics. Now the IRB better do a great job to promote the game and keep it there, which they won’t because the never do.
But it will be interesting.
Take the 7′s specialists or let Spies, Kankowski, Habana, Mentz, Adams loose?
9 Oct 2009, 23:10 pm
#100 skopskiet:
we’ve got bigger problems than battlegoose, there’s an asteroid set to come close in 20 years time, far more likely to get wiped out by that sort of thing imo unless there’s a global pandemic or human creation which does so before then.
its happened many times before, the dinosaurs were top of the food chain and perhaps if the asteroid had not hit, they’d be tapping away on their pc’s contemplating the mystery of it all, such as will Jake take over the Lions. Will you have a drink to celebrate?
9 Oct 2009, 23:11 pm
#91 skopskiet: “I still say nothing short of cowardice”
Why would you care?
9 Oct 2009, 23:12 pm
#103 SodaJoe: I wonder who is actually better at 7s, the specialists or the gifted 15s players?
Matthew Tait is lethal at 7s but Ollie Phillips is the IRB 7s player of the year, I know which would I would least like to play against.
9 Oct 2009, 23:15 pm
#104 cab: Battle Goose. That’s quite a terrifying thought.
Not as bad as Combat Ready Parktown Prawn.
9 Oct 2009, 23:15 pm
actually matthew tait was hugely talented cented, just a bietjie bangbroek.
9 Oct 2009, 23:17 pm
#100 skopskiet:
The key is “our concious existence” as you put it. It presupposes that our existence is defined by our physical identity and our awareness of it. If all matter is eternal it doesn’t mean that it’s form is eternal. We may be immortal but rather like a drop of water, lose our concious identity in the ocean of the universe.
9 Oct 2009, 23:17 pm
#107 SodaJoe:
yes i went to go watch that, wickus turned into a prawn, the poor okie.
9 Oct 2009, 23:19 pm
#106 Big Hit: I am beyond excited about 7′s being an Olympic sport.
But if we’re truly honest it is second best to 15 man rugby – in all nations.
Which means that the Habanas, Spies, Kankowski’s don’t play. And those guys would be lethal.
Quite a while ago, when 7′s really hit it’s stride with Hong Kong Sevens – NZ in particular would blood a lot of youngsters in 7′s and they would play both “codes”.
But now there’s much more rugby and therefore a false “specialization”.
The very best players play 15 man – and get paid well for it.
There may well be some 7′s specialists that are just better, Eric Rush comes to mind, but my personal view is that the better players are playing professional 15 man rugby.
9 Oct 2009, 23:19 pm
#109 David: yeah that would really suck, although I guess suicidal people would gladly like to lose their conscious identity
9 Oct 2009, 23:20 pm
#109 David: Wow, you don’t hear that everyday. I have been saying the same thing for years. Just seems to fall on deaf ears.
9 Oct 2009, 23:20 pm
#109 David:
yessus where did that come from? its too much, i need a drink.
do you think heinke/rallapelle/cj would make a good lions frontrow?
9 Oct 2009, 23:21 pm
#103 SodaJoe:
Hi Soda, I think the argument is rather moot. The Olympic committe will put restrictions on the level of player, as they have in soccer.
9 Oct 2009, 23:21 pm
#110 cab: Good movie, as usual not as good as the hype.
But my overwhelming impression was that Joburg had really gone to ****.
9 Oct 2009, 23:21 pm
#114 cab: The answer is yes.
9 Oct 2009, 23:22 pm
#115 David: No problem with me. I wish they did that for all sports – basketball, tennis, as well.
9 Oct 2009, 23:25 pm
#111 SodaJoe: I think you’re right, the stars from the 15 man code are better. This was the shortlist of best 7s players this year,I might be wrong but I think it’s mainly players who aren’t great at the 15 man code.
The 2009 Nominees for IRB World Player of the Year:
Renfred Dazel, South Africa
With a quick thinking rugby brain and lightening fast acceleration, Dazel has been a key man behind South Africa’s consistently strong performances this year, helping them win three Series Cup titles so far in Dubai, George and Adelaide. A full time Sevens-contracted player like the rest of Paul Treu’s squad, South Africa’s reigning Sevens player of the year has played in all seven tournaments so far on the World Series, scoring 18 tries and 169 points.
Collins Injera, Kenya
With 35 tries so far this season Injera is the season’s leading scorer, having crossed the whitewash eight times more than anyone else. A constant danger with his pace and power, he is a key reason behind Kenya’s rise up the world Sevens rankings to their current position of sixth.
Humphrey Kayange, Kenya
Injera’s brother and captain, Kayange has proved an inspirational leader for the Kenyans both on and off the pitch. His haul of 16 tries from seven events represents the second highest by a forward and his ball-winning and defensive qualities lie at the heart of Kenya’s vast improvement under coach Benjamin Ayimba. Has led the Africans to four Cup quarter finals, two semi finals and one final on the Series, as well as the semi finals of the Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Mpho Mbiyozo, South Africa
In the absence of Mzwandile Stick, Mbiyozo captained the Springbok Sevens team to victory in Adelaide in April but has been another constant in South Africa’s push for a first ever IRB Sevens World Series crown. Another player to have played in all seven events so far this season, he has notched 13 tries to compliment his ball-winning skills as a forward.
Ollie Phillips, England
England’s captain this season, Phillips inspired Ben Ryan’s side to a first ever Cup success in Wellington in February and a first win in five years at their home London Sevens event at Twickenham last weekend. Another ever-present, he is his country’s leading try-scorer this year with 20 and has been central to the team’s vast improvement on last season.
Emosi Vucago, Fiji
At the heart of Fiji’s rebuilding work under coach Iliesa Tanivula, Vucago wears the number ’6′ shirt vacated by the great Waisale Serevi and Fiji are always a better team with him than without him. His five tournaments played this year have yielded 10 tries and 82 points, including a starring role in their one Cup success this year in Hong Kong.
9 Oct 2009, 23:25 pm
Will do David will mail you shortly, probably not tonight though, email access little limited here.
Hooray cavalry has arrived in form of cab, transie and big hit, thought for a moment back there that the defection had even managed to snuff out some these die hard bright sparks.
Don’t know anyone in East London transie.
All I know is that 400 years is less than a blink of an eye in evolutionary or cosmic time. If its the design of the great cosmonaut that this little cycle (whats it been around 4 or 5 billion years) is about to come to an end just in this galactic neighbourhood, then all these souls inhabiting these 7 billion human bodies and all the rest of the trillion odd inhabitants of other bodily species all got to vacate in rather a little hurry, and vamoose where to exactly? No where to go but back into the cosmic soup and another little round robin episode of coagulation of matter, formation of amoeba, non vertebrates, vertebrates, amphibian, water born, land born, lower reptile, fish, fowl, mammal, primate and man all over again.
Somebody up there must have a hilarious sense of humour.
9 Oct 2009, 23:25 pm
#116 SodaJoe:
yes, it was a strange one, started off a bit **** but then when the prawns got their mothership going it got a bit better – you right tho joburg did not look great, in fact neither did wickus.
9 Oct 2009, 23:26 pm
#115 David: why would they though?
9 Oct 2009, 23:29 pm
Sorry guys, i got carried away for the moment.
Where the hell did you all suddenly come from.? The site was dead, It was a bit like being caught masturbating, by your mother when you think you’re alone.
9 Oct 2009, 23:29 pm
#120 skopskiet: makes it all sound a bit pointless really
9 Oct 2009, 23:31 pm
#121 cab: #120 skopskiet: Geez I might get really despondent if you keep ignoring me. Depressed even.
9 Oct 2009, 23:32 pm
#123 David: Well as Woody Allen said, *** with someone is really great, but you can’t beat the real thing.
9 Oct 2009, 23:33 pm
#125 SodaJoe: Cab you’ve actually been quite nice indulging me and all, just got carried away with disappointment and copied you.
9 Oct 2009, 23:34 pm
#122 Big Hit: There’s usually an age limit which is intended to make the events more sporting and even.
They obviously have never seen the Grey Bloem First XV.
9 Oct 2009, 23:35 pm
#123 David:
actually 109 is one of the most insightful thought-provoking thoughts i’ve read.
but all things have their place, time to disappear into the revelry of paris, best time of the week for whatever reason. late city i guess.
enjoy your weekend.
9 Oct 2009, 23:35 pm
#122 Big Hit:
Read my responses to Simon at the beginning of this thread. If we select our best 15 game players, we’ll have to retrain them to the 7s game. This will totally disrupt the 4N, S15 and tour matches.
Besides, the IOC doesn’t want professional teams to dominate the team sports.
9 Oct 2009, 23:36 pm
another bright spark has arrived in this here constellation in form of sofa joe of Minneapolis hip hip hooray. More the merryer for as long as this earth keeps spinning on her axis.
#109 david, like your thinking here we pretty much on same page in this regard.
Cab if meteor hadn’t struck dinosaur would still be king. But it did strike (if that theory is correct) and Mr Dinosaur is no more, now **** sapien is king, for this little stretch anyway, till next one hits, or Betelgeuse goes boom at least.
Big question still remains. ‘who are we’ or rather ‘who am I’. Million dollar question that should be the first equation on the agenda in everyones priority, cause as we come to notice, f’all is actually permanent in this revolving evolving universe of duality and polarized existence.
9 Oct 2009, 23:36 pm
#125 SodaJoe:
hey, ignoring you? no i aint seen you in ages, figured you went off to the other place to bake melktert of so iets. always good to see you around soda, ok later.
9 Oct 2009, 23:39 pm
#129 cab:
Night Cab, you lucky *******.
9 Oct 2009, 23:44 pm
One more Olympic gold medal headed for NZ, of course.
9 Oct 2009, 23:45 pm
#130 David: I have to say, I’m not sure they’ll have to be retrained such is the talent available in the 15 man code. How much training would a form Shane Williams need for example or a Rupeni Caucau or a Brian O’Driscoll?
#129 cab: later cab
9 Oct 2009, 23:45 pm
#133 TheTackler: one more opportunity to choke you mean
9 Oct 2009, 23:47 pm
#113 SodaJoe:
Frustrating, isn’t it? We might be immortal, but WE will not be around to conciously enjoy it.
9 Oct 2009, 23:47 pm
one my posts been moderated wtf for God or Roy only knows.
Anyway see cabs gone. And I don’t have a copy n paste function on here except just will have to say
#109 david that I appreciate your thinking we pretty much on same page as per this regard. Will mail you sometime shortly when I get to a functioning pc. This phone thingy just not up to the moeita.
9 Oct 2009, 23:49 pm
#131 cab: Actually I only post here, I come to visit with mates, who are seemingly far and few between now.
having to travel more. So less time.
I really don’t get why people are concerned about the guys on rugby talk – each to their own, fine by me. I miss some of the more insightful folks that taught me a lot about the game.
Disappear in to the revelry that is Paris. Now that line made me jealous. Great city, I have enjoyed it immensely every single time.
9 Oct 2009, 23:52 pm
#134 Big Hit:
You need to develop a squad of 7s specialists. The speed and tactics are different to the 15 man game.
Sure, talented national players might be able to adapt, but it will take time, and what happens to the traditional 15 man schedule whilst they’re doing it?
9 Oct 2009, 23:57 pm
#137 skopskiet:
Please do.
Anyway guys, good night.
9 Oct 2009, 23:58 pm
#139 David: Dave – I ahven’t watched a lot of 7′s, certainly not recently. But watched HK 7′s and truthfully – the specialist dealio is a red herring to me.
3 “forwards”
4 backs.
Spies, Kankowski, Brussow at hooker.
Adams, Ludik, Habana, Mentz,
I doubt the current national team would beat this team. But who knows, conjecture at best, because it’s never been tested.
Scheduling however is another matter.
9 Oct 2009, 23:58 pm
#140 David: Night bud.
9 Oct 2009, 23:59 pm
#139 David: it’s interesting you take that view as this is what I was discussing with sodajoe. Ollie Phillips is said to be the best 7s player in the world in 2009 but I still think the likes of Matthew Tait would be easily better despite not playing it often. The level of natural talent is so much higher, Ollie Phillips couldn’t hold down a place on the wing at Falcons.
10 Oct 2009, 00:00 am
cabs gone jolling to Mont Martre or or Champs Ellyses or Moulin Rouge or some such happy spinning venue of human co habitation. Paris the place where the beautiful people show just how beautiful they can be, specially the fairer ***. Gotta make hay while the sun shines cos sooner or later could be night time again.
Yes David except I reckon its much grander than that, ‘who’ will be conscious of that super conscious state of cosmic awareness will still be ‘us’ except not limited by this finite sensual state of insular imperception. The ‘big picture’ is visible but not with the apparati of physical senses.
10 Oct 2009, 00:05 am
everybody come and everybody go. Time to bale out too I guess.
So long folks
10 Oct 2009, 00:06 am
#144 skopskiet: that’s a more optimistic conclusion on the face of it, only problem is in that scenario is that we won’t be aware that it’s ‘us’, that is, the previous ‘us’ limited by physical senses.
10 Oct 2009, 00:06 am
#129 cab: i agree cabbie…david got me thinking there for a second…enjoy paris…
I’m really interested in how the IOC will regulate this one, even SARU for that matter…
10 Oct 2009, 00:06 am
#145 skopskiet: think you right, later all
10 Oct 2009, 00:11 am
#103 SodaJoe:
Ja, just a pity Paul Treu would not be there.
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