A worldwide push by the International Rugby Board to have rugby accepted into the Olympic Games still faces an uphill battle, according to leading Games official Jacques Rogge, who criticised the recent World Cup for failing to make an overwhelming case.



Rugby last featured in the Olympics in 1924, when the USA won the event, and was one of five sports suggested for inclusion at London 2012, but all failed to win enough support at the vote in 2005. Rogge played rugby for Belgium and sailed for his native country in the Olympics, but he insisted that the World Cup had not helped the campaign for rugby to become a Games sport. He said:

"It was a good World Cup in terms of the public attention, but I'm not happy about the quality of play. I am passionate about rugby but I think the game has to evolve to keep its appeal."

However, Rogge did not rule it out for post-2012 Games. He added:

"It couldn't be 15-a-side. You cannot play rugby every third day.so 15s are not an option. But sevens could be. It is definitely a candidate."

Source: The Scotsman

The World Academy of Sport has announced at the International Rugby Board ( IRB ) General Assembly in Paris that it will deliver administrator programmes through the newly established “IRB Administrators Academy” to IRB member unions.
The IRB Administrators Academy is a joint initiative of the World Academy of Sport and the IRB, and was officially launched today during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.


This marks the establishment of the fourth in a series of partnerships between World Academy of Sport and International Sport Federations in order to establish educational academies. The IRB has long recognised the need to provide educational opportunities for stakeholders involved in Rugby and have found in the World Academy of Sport, a delivery partner that meets the needs of their administrators. All administrator programmes will be produced in conjunction with Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester.

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Basic information for the new player


What is Rugby?

Rugby is a team sport played on a 100 metre long pitch using an oval-shaped ball and H-shaped goalposts. No special equipment is necessary and the athlete clothing and equipment is simple and inexpensive. Rugby was an amateur sport for more than 100 years. In 1995 it became a professional game at the elite level only whilst retaining its traditional values and its spirit at all levels. 99% of the game is amateur.


Does Rugby have more than one format?
The sport has two main forms - 15s and Rugby Sevens, reflecting the number of players that are permitted on the field of play at any time in each form of the game.


The IRB manages a number of tournaments, including the IRB Sevens World Series, Age Grade World Championships and a number of regional 15s and Sevens tournaments for both men and women. The principal tournaments are the Rugby World Cup, which is generally considered one of the top five sports events in the world, the Women’s Rugby World Cup (being held this year in Canada) and Rugby World Cup Sevens for men and women. Rugby Sevens is also a core sport in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

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2006 will be remembered as an exciting year for the Game. On the field around the world the core IRB Tournaments broke new ground, while off it the IRB continued its significant investment in the Game with the roll out of Union high performance initiatives and several new exciting Tournaments.


The 2006 IRB Under 19 World Championship in Dubai was the first major Rugby tournament to be staged in the Middle East, while the IRB Under 21 World Championship in France played a major role in terms of RWC promotion a year out from the Tournament. The popular IRB Sevens World Series continued to break records in terms of attendance and broadcast coverage and the Women’s Rugby World Cup held in Edmonton, Canada set new standards for the Women’s Game.


2007 promises to be even more exciting with the international Rugby community eagerly awaiting Rugby World Cup 2007. The Tournament in France (with several matches in Wales and Scotland) promises to be the most successful in its 20-year history. I am confident the Tournament will deliver spectators with the unique and colourful regional experiences that only France can offer. It will be an event not to be missed and the IRB is looking forward to welcoming Rugby supporters from all over Europe and the world to Rugby World Cup 2007.


RWC 2007 is just the tip of the iceberg in what promises to be another busy year for Rugby. The final two teams for Rugby World Cup will be confirmed through the Repechage process by March. Belfast, Northern Ireland will host the 2007 IRB Under 19 World Championship in April. The IRB's Pacific Rugby Cup, Pacific Nations Cup, North America 4 and Nations Cup will enter their second year and the IRB Sevens World Series will climax in June as the Series visits Scotland for the first time.


There is much to look forward to, but it is also important to recognise those who give up their time for the Game on a voluntary basis – the tireless contribution of such volunteers is crucial to ensuring the good health of the Game. Thanks must also go to the sponsors around the world who contribute so much to the ongoing development of the Game through their generous support and to the media which provides excellent and extensive coverage of Rugby.


On behalf of the International Rugby Board, I would like to wish you Season’s Greetings and a successful 2007.


Dr. Syd Millar

Chairman, International Rugby Board

The International Rugby Board has announced an increase in its annual investment in the Game.


Funding in the form of Development Grants, Strategic Initiative Grants and Tournament Grants across all 115 Member Unions will increase to an unprecedented £22 million in 2007, continuing the IRB's commitment to developing the Game worldwide.

"The Rugby World Cup plays an important part in the development of world Rugby as it provides the financial platform for the global growth of the Game. Annual investment in infrastructure, strategic initiatives, development programmes and Tournament structures designed to increase the competitiveness of the Game around the world is indeed underwritten by the financial success of the Tournament,"

said IRB Chairman, Dr Syd Millar.

"Investment in development programmes, strategic initiatives and Regional and IRB Tournaments has gown significantly from £12 million in 2005 to £22 million being allocated for investment across all Member Unions in 2007. This significant figure further highlights the IRB's continued commitment to the development of the Game worldwide."

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