Gordon Tietjens would have an absolute field day in grooming an Olympic squad, look at the talent that would put themselves out there. I’d think Sonny Bill Williams might be a little keen to try to get a gold medal for NZ, along with the other 150 or so top rugby players in the country.

NZ have won the past 4 CWG Sevens medals against the leading Sevens nations of the world, despite not dominating the IRB Sevens series, and most importantly only tracking in reservists from the ABs squad. Names like Jonah Lomu, and Christian Cullen have got their starts in Sevens, and it’s an acknowledged talent path for the top players in the game (ie Cory Jane)

Doing this would of course wreck the Aussie medal tally but i’m English so who cares.

I’ll be interested to see what effect Sevens inclusion will have on Union…does anyone know how handball has progressed in Australia having been included in the last ten Olympics?

That’s about to change.

In Australia, all ERASS sports participation surveys have struggled to show a statistically significant female Union participation,…..not just nationally, but even state by state.

So, I hope you don’t mean to put forward Australia as a shining example of the male/female worth of RU as an Olympic sport.

but, then, that male/female equation seems a bit silly when we look at synchro swimming, (& boxing,..hmm – topical!).

Tug-of-war was on the Olympic programme in 1900, 1904, 1906 (Intercalated Games), 1908, 1912 and 1920. Tug-of-war was always contested as a part of the track and field athletics programme, although it is now considered a separate sport. The Olympic champions were as follows: 1900: a combined Swedish/Danish team; 1904: an American club team representing the Milwaukee Athletic Club; 1906: Germany/Switzerland; 1908: a British team from the City of London Police Club; 1912: Sweden; and 1920: Great Britain.

BRING BACK THE TUG!

Football & Rugby Union both have their world cups, & numerous other annual comps, so they don’t need to be part of the olympics.

Basketball treats the Olympics as a bit of a lark. The NBA is the biggest annual show in town.

Tennis & Golf have their 4 majors every year, plus numerous other comps. They need to be part of the Olympics like they need a hole in the head.

Anyway, with president Charvez of Venezuela nationalising many supposedly bougious golf courses, we mightn’t expect an Olympics in Caracas any time soon!!!

I think the olympics should stick with the simple, out of the ordinary, sports such as sprinting, swimming etc etc.

And what ever happened to the good old ‘tug of war’? Tug of war is still recognised by the IOC as an official sport but is not played anymore in the olympics. Can you imagine how much interest a 15man a side tug of war between teams such as NZ and AUS would generate? Much more than a game of 7 a side chuck about!

Rugby in the Olympics would give the game the legitimacy it has been eagerly chasing for many, many years now in the US. It would open up greater development pathways and assist in getting Rugby not only High School Varsity status but NCAA accreditation.

I reserve my right to reply at anything directed toward myself. As for juvenile. Hardly. Compared to some exchanges I have witnessed on The Roar, John Ryan and myself have been down right civilised. If you want to see juvenile behaviour I suggest you watch ABC’s coverage of Question Time.

Give it up, you’re both sounding like juveniles!

I think, well Ihope that Viscount is more or less taking the piss with how he choose’s to post. If not, I’ll agree he sounds rahter pompus.

John Ryan

You haven’t heard the rumour then. I’ll clear it up for you. Solicitian tends to be the theme. Done in the privacy of a hotel room. But supposedly using the ARU corporate Credit card. If true that’s why he has had his contract torn up. It not a conspiracy. The ARU won’t say anything as it can be comsidered as defamation of character and/or slander.

Correct me if I’m wrong but those Rugby player’s have all been dealt with harshly. How many months did Nate Myles cop for defecating in public to name one of a growing list.

There are a few bad apples in every regiment – and rugger is no different. Let us not tar all rugger chaps with the same brush merely because a few rum characters have been up to mischief.

Truth be told, rugger is the most moral of all sports. A chap can enjoy a spot of biff with his opposite number and as soon as the whistle goes to signal the end of the game, it’s all forgotten. Compare that to the ghastly socer oiks who keep black books of their enemies so that they can “nobble” them next time. Frightful!

Let us hope that the marvellous Mr Rogge has soccer on his hitlist of sports to strike off.