With the International Olympic Committee's decision on the inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games just over a week away, the Rugby Football Union has become the latest to support the idea of men's and women's Great Britain rugby teams, if the International Rugby Board's campaign is successful.
On Friday 9 October in the Danish capital Copenhagen, the IOC will decide whether Rugby Sevens will join the 2016 Games programme, just under two months since the IOC's Executive Board recommended Rugby Sevens and Golf for inclusion, from the seven sports in contention.
The IRB Sevens World Series continues to grow year on year, having celebrated its 10th anniversary last season by crowning a new champion in South Africa. In all, 10 sides reached the Cup semi final stage, including Samoa, Argentina and - for the first time - Kenya and USA.
The Series now visits eight countries, attracting hundreds of players and tens of thousands of fans with Hong Kong a three-day, 120,000 sell-out; a record 62,000 watching the London Sevens at Twickenham and the Wellington leg regularly selling out within minutes.
Great Britain united
Players from England, Scotland and RWC Sevens winners Wales came together recently under the banner of Help for Heroes at the hugely popular Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham, with the national coaches working in tandem and showcasing the unified desire to form a united Great Britain team to hopefully bid for Olympic gold in 2016.
"Sevens would be an invaluable addition to the Olympic Games. As proved in the Commonwealth Games, the IRB Sevens World Series and through its own Rugby World Cup, it is a thrilling spectacle that captivates the fans," said Rob Andrew, RFU Elite Rugby Director.
"The thought of joining with the other Home Unions to make a team GB is very exciting and, on behalf of the RFU and the Elite Rugby department, I wholeheartedly support the bid to include Sevens rugby for men and women at the 2016 Olympic Games."
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai also attracted thousands last March with broadcast figures shattering all previous records - 28 broadcasters carried live coverage to 141 countries to a global audience of 760 million and for the first time a 16-team women's event was held alongside the men's competition and proved hugely competitive and successful with Australia being crowned the inaugural champions.
"The first joint Rugby World Cup Sevens proved a tremendous success and demonstrated how effectively the men's and women's games are developing around the world," said Nicky Ponsford MBE, the Rugby Football Union for Women's Head of Performance.
"Sevens has become an integral programme for the current elite England Women's squad. The RFUW are fully supportive of the inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games in what would be a hugely exciting opportunity to showcase to the world Rugby Sevens at its exciting, competitive format. The concept of a GB team is extremely motivating."
Great if it happens, but they will still have to beat the Kiwis. Mind you they do tend to bottle it on the big stage.
ReplyDeleteWould be awesome if it happens, all fingers crossed for Friday. I think a GB team would do a job on a Kiwi side.
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