By Working Class Rugger -
December 20th 2009 @ 1:45am
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Olympic status already paying dividends
It’s still only very early days in Rugby’s revitalised Olympic journey, but already the IOC’s emphatic acceptance of the sport is beginning to be felt. Recently, the IRB requested potential applicants to formally state their Expressions of Interest (EOI) to host the 2013 RWC Sevens event, the last ever staging of the event prior to the Rio Games in 2016.
While it has been known for some time that Russia has been keen to host the event, two other unlikely bidders have entered the race. Who might they be? Well, I won’t keep you waiting. Both Germany and Brazil have submitted EOI’s to host Sevens final World Cup event. Russia is considered an emerging power in the Rugby world and it held no surprises in their eagerness to host one of Rugby’s major events, but both Germany and Brazil could be considered as rather left field in their interest.
I thought it might be interesting to evaluate each of these nations’ cases to host the event, starting with who I see as the obvious favourite – Russia.
Russia: As I have previously stated, the obvious favourite with Rugby expanding its presence. The IRB has a vested interest in Russia, allocating a great deal of time and money with the purpose of rapidly assisting the growth of the Russian Bear status in the game of Rugby.
They have an ever improving Professional League, drawing players from throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Media awareness of the game is increasing annually, and ratings for the Six Nations improve year by year.
The real strength of this bid, however, relates to the guaranteed government support the event will receive. The Russian government has already committed to installing Rugby as a school sport throughout the country. Such an event would drastically increase participation and public interest in Rugby in Russia.
Germany: Once upon a time Rugby had a real presence in Germany. But, due to WW2 and Nazism, lost its foothold. However, Rugby is experiencing a resurgence and is now one of the fastest growing sports in Germany. Alongside this re-emergence, there are a few exciting developments occurring in Germany to further improve the standard of Rugby played within its borders and its flagship competition, the 10 team Rugby Bundesliga, most notably the WILD Rugby Academy in Heidelberg.
In 2008 the Hannover European 7s drew a record crowd of over 35,000 to the two day event and obviously the DRV view this opportunity as a real watershed event to provide the Rugby with the necessary exposure and potential investment to kick start further growth and interest towards the game in a nation that has the real potential to become a significant presence in world Rugby.
Brazil: The surprise packet of the three. Though in terms of preparation for 2016 could realistically snatch the event from underneath both its competitors. Brazil is seen as a key development nation in the IRB’s plans, not only within South America but eventually internationally.
Rugby will be a foreign concept to most Brazilians. Awarding them the event and ensuring it runs smoothly could really provide the impetus for a highly successful Rio Games which would all but secure the games Olympic future beyond 2020.
Whoever the IRB elects the decision will not come lightly as in both playing and financial potential all three nations could provide significant windfalls for Rugby, and further assist its growth in key regions of the world. Who will they choose? The emerging power? The potential power? Or the host of the games re-emergence on the Olympic stage? We’ll know soon enough.
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siva samoa said | December 20th 2009 @ 5:53am | Report comment
China and USA fight for Tietjens’ sevens services
By GREG FORD – Sunday Star Times
Gordon Tietjens has been shoulder-tapped by both China and the United States to coach their sevens teams at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The veteran New Zealand coach told the Sunday Star-Times he had been sounded out by both nations, but his loyalties remained with New Zealand – for now.
Tietjens’ contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union expires after the Commonwealth Games next year. He said discussions on renewing his contract had already begun, “and to be fair to the NZRU they have been really good”.
But word on the sevens grapevine is the United States is desperate to secure a sevens expert to oversee its campaign.
And its search has only become more urgent now there’s a chance the code will be played as a demonstration sport at the 2012 Games in London.
A sold-out Twickenham sevens tournament would provide a financial windfall for Games organisers.
“So there’s a renewed sense of urgency in some countries who want to start organising their programmes now,” said Tietjens.
“Opportunities are opening up everywhere. It’s not only in China and the United States, but other countries are getting ready now.”
Singapore has advertised for a coach and it’s understood former All Blacks No 8 Murray Mexted, who runs a rugby academy that caters for young 15-a-side aspirants, is testing the market.
He was seen touting his services as a consultant or campaign manager at the latest round of the IRB Sevens World Series in George, South Africa, which New Zealand won.
Mexted has brochures printed, and is also sounding out coaches to come on board and act as consultants under his banner.
New Zealand’s win in George further enhanced Tietjens’ reputation as the best sevens coach in the world.
Even the International Rugby Board, which is on the hunt for coaches to help sell the sevens gospel in developing countries, is said to have approached the Kiwi.
“There’s a real shortage of sevens specialist expertise,” Tietjens said.
“Opportunities are opening up all over the show.”
But Tietjens is expected to stay put.
He was at pains to stress, yesterday, where his loyalties remain: “To New Zealand – and please quote me on that.”
The next few months should confirm whether that continues.
“I have a couple of meetings scheduled early next year with the NZRU high performance unit,” he said.
“They will be very important meetings. I should find out strategically where sevens sits with them and make my decision after that.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/sevens/3179266/China-and-USA-fight-for-Tietjens-sevens-services
Bondiplage said | December 20th 2009 @ 6:09am | Report comment
Good posts, Working Class and Siva. I believe Russia’s seven team is already competitive having beaten the US recently. As two of the financial BRIC nations, Brazil and Russia have the dough to hire first class coaches, and almost six years to get a strong squad together for the Olympics. I hear from a pal in Guadalajara that Mexico, another oil-rich, sleeping rugby giant, is already making plans for a strong Olympic sevens team.
Things are getting exciting.
Shahsan said | December 20th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Trivia question: which country lost the most rugby players in World War I? (see bottom of post).
Anyway, reading this story it makes me almost feel of “be careful what you wish for”. Is it just possible that, in about 20-30 years’ time, the powerhouses of rugby might be Russia, Germany and China? Poor old New Zealand, Australia might become minor players in rugby the way India and Pakistan, once powerhouses in hockey, are now just bit-part players, or like Hungary in soccer.
Trivia answer: Germany.
Rickety Knees said | December 20th 2009 @ 8:48am | Report comment
Great posts WCR & Siva
cookie said | December 20th 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
As the saying goes Shahsan, just don’t mention the war.
Matt said | December 20th 2009 @ 10:46am | Report comment
It almost feels like a revolution in the game is on the doorstep.
In 1995, when the code went pro 14 years ago, a rugby fan would never be reading articles talking about China and Russia looking at poaching the best 7’s coach in the world off NZ’s books. Nor would Russia be instigating nationwide schools rugby or be hosting a Pro Comp and bidding for WC events. A major tournament in Germany or Brazil would be dream.
But these days the IRB has the incredible position of being able to choose from 3 of the worlds biggest nations to host their tournaments. By 2020, when 7’s will occur for the second time (or 3rd if it get’s exhibition status for London 2012) who knows how many nations will be realistically in with a shot at the Olympic title?
In 2009 you have Fiji, Samoa, England, Argentina, Wales, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya and Australia all as potential tournament winners. You also have nations like Russia and USA growing very rapidly and on the cusp of the big boys. If nations like Japan, Scotland, Ireland and France were to throw their weight in behind the 7’s game then look out!
7’s is very capable of throwing up upsets. The fast pace of the game also brings the physically smaller Asian nations into reckoning too. What a great future Rugby 7’s has. The short duration of the matches fit very well into a 2-3 day tournament format and offer a short sharp action packed weekend of games.
It doesn’t really threaten XV’s for covereage as the two sports are very different. 7’s is similar to rugby as 20/20 is to cricket. But a XV’s match is already currently around a 2hr spectacle, the same as a 20/20 match. So in many ways a 20/20 game is the same length as a XV’s game. Whereas a 7’s tournament is more in tune with Test Cricket in terms of overall tournament length. Except that the action is faster and more attractive to the average un familiar punter.
Joh4Canberra said | December 20th 2009 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
Good post, but a suggestion about the use of unfamiliar abbreviations. Although I know what DRV stands for (I have lived in Germany and have seen German rugby in action, even having travelled down to Heidelberg to witness a test match) I’m not so sure everyone reading this would make the link straight away that DRV is the (German) abbreviation for the German Rugby Union (Deutscher Rugby-Verband). Some foreign abbreviations are quite well known — for example I think just about every rugby fan would know that FFR is the French abbreviation for the French Rugby Union (or Federation) without further elaboration. But with DRV I’m not so sure. It never hurts to err on the side of caution.
Bay35Pablo said | December 20th 2009 @ 7:25pm | Report comment
Just tell the Brazilians the Argies are good at it, and they’ll want to knock them off …
China, Russia, the world, hasn’t Super League already taken them by storm …. oh …
Norm said | December 20th 2009 @ 9:52pm | Report comment
-”China, Russia, the world, hasn’t Super League already taken them by storm …. oh …”. Here we go again another wannabe aristocrat pouring contempt on Rugby League. Belittling League somehow makes Union better. It seems Union is incapable of growing on its own merits; this can only be achieved by diminishing other codes, particularly League. Brazil, Russia & Germany world powers in Rugby 7s? More like cannon fodder for New Zealand as they claim gold in the men & women competitions and more fantasy to perpetuate the myth of global rugby 7s competition.
Shahsan said | December 20th 2009 @ 10:54pm | Report comment
I agree union writers should not attack league to make a point apropos of nothing; but if they are responding to something said by a leaguie on union then I reckon that is justifiable.
As for New Zealand winning men’s and women’s gold at the Olympics, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You are betraying your lack of knowledge of rugby 7s with that statement.
NZ won neither event at the RWC 7s this year, and I think to date they have won only one of the five RWC 7s contested so far (not counting the one-off event in the early 70s, won by England). The other winners have been Fiji (twice), England and Wales. Australia won the inaugural women’s event this year.
As for your comment that “It seems Union is incapable of growing on its own merits; this can only be achieved by diminishing other codes, particularly League” I think that is nonsense. Internationally, rugby union grows or not due purely to its own efforts. It has no direct competition internationally as a sport. Football (soccer) is in a different, much bigger, league.
Rugby league and Aussie rules are a factor only in Australia.
ohtani's jacket said | December 20th 2009 @ 10:52pm | Report comment
As much as I hate these threads, I’m surprised no-one has mentioned the East Asian Games that were held in Hong Kong this month. Rugby Sevens was included for the first time with Japan defeating Hong Kong 26-24 in the Men’s Gold Medal match and China defeating Japan 34-12 in the Women’s Gold Medal match. Korea took bronze in the Men’s competition and Hong Kong were third in the Women’s.
Shahsan said | December 20th 2009 @ 10:57pm | Report comment
Why do you hate these threads?
And is this East Asian games 7s different from the Asian Games rugby 7s? Or do they not hold those anymore?
ohtani's jacket said | December 20th 2009 @ 11:37pm | Report comment
I just think they’re a bunch of hyperbole.
Anyway, the East Asian games are different from the Asian Games. The Asian Games are being held next year from memory.
jus de couchon said | December 20th 2009 @ 11:53pm | Report comment
I would like to see an Oz League team entered in the Rugby 7s seperate as well as the ARU team . They would do very well I suspect , if they would condecend to going over to the dark side.
King of the Gorganites said | December 21st 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
good article WCR. really shows the ever increasing globalisation of rugby. i personally would like to see it in Russia- but i am a little ocncerned about the weather. Maybe someone could give some feeback about the best time of year it could be played and where?
theres no need to take cheap shots at league. we dont need leaguies here turning this into a league v union thread and telling us how RL is going to take over the USA and France. ha.
7’s is a great spectacle and will really help grown the game of rugby. i would like to see more coverage on fox though. why not live coverageo entire weekend?
rugbyfuture said | December 21st 2009 @ 11:26am | Report comment
the russians are building heated pitches i heard
King of the Gorganites said | December 21st 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
but part of the fun of sevens is it carnival atmosphere. hard for the crowd to get into the mood if its freezing
Joh4Canberra said | December 22nd 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Is the sevens world cup a fixed or moveable feast? I know the Dubai one was played in March and in that climate you wouldn’t want to be playing sevens at the height of summer (close to 50 degrees). and according to Wikipedia all of the previous instalments except 1992 (which was played in April) were played in March. So it would look like they are going to be held in March. If you could hold them in Summer in Russia there would be no problem with the weather. And unless it was an exceptionally cold and long winter then in late March your’e unlikely to have the problem of frozen pitches — at least in western Russia (and somehow I don’t thnk the Russians are planning on taking the sevens world cup to Siberia or the Russian Far East). April in Moscow is not exactly warm but the Winter has definitely passed and it would be fine for an international tournament.
I think the main point about the heated pitches is that the Ruskies are getting serious about the game and want to be able to play/train all year round. I’m not sure they’re doing it so that they can host an international tournament on a heated pitch in freezing conditions.
Working Class Rugger said | December 22nd 2009 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
Joh4Canberra
VVA Podomosvie are developing there stadium in Minino with the primary aim of gaining entrance to the Euro Challenge Cup. The Russian Govt is investing in a few more for teams in other regions.
Norm said | December 21st 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
Let’s be clear here King of the Clowns it’s Payless35 that’s turning this into a league v union thread, no-one else. As for your deliberate misrepresentation of league’s aspirations with “telling us how RL is going to take over the USA and France. ha” I can only conclude that your level of honesty has sunk below that exhibited by Quade Cooper. Finally when it comes to “why not live coverageo (sic) entire weekend?” let me educate you in some fundamental economic theory; no demand.
rugbyfuture said | December 21st 2009 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
although also based on economic theory demand can be built through proper distribution methods, trying to aquire long term profit with short term losses and initial investment, much like Rugby League see with the Melbourne Storm
King of the Gorganites said | December 21st 2009 @ 7:49pm | Report comment
rugby sevens is rugby’s greatest weapon in the age old war (defending itself) against RL- and i believe it will be a lethal weapon.
AndyS said | December 21st 2009 @ 8:33pm | Report comment
I wonder though – like most weapons, the owner needs to be careful of his feet. Put two Sevens squads into one team and which code would they find easiest to play? In those countries without a strong background in 15’s…
King of the Gorganites said | December 21st 2009 @ 8:40pm | Report comment
point taken. however, the advantage rugby has it that the IRB has plenty of money to ensure they then take up the 15 game. there are already eastablished programs and clubs throughout the developing nations. RL simply does not have the money or infrastructure to try to steal rugby’s impetus.
Dogs Of War said | December 21st 2009 @ 8:57pm | Report comment
Money does not equal passion. Otherwise the ARC would have been a raging success.
As for stealing Rugby impetus, League is just carving out it’s own niche. Face the facts, the sports complement each other well. League is smart enough to realise that it needs to focus on a few areas, and make those strengths.
Shahsan said | December 21st 2009 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
Well, if they have been playing sevens, then they would already be well versed in how to ruck, maul, scrummage, win lineouts etc. And not being able to compete for possession they would find really unnatural.
So i think they would find rugby union easier to play.
And besides, their mates who signed up but didnt make the 7s team because they were too big or bulky or slow, or just bulit wrongly for 7s will be glad to play 15s with them.
AndyS said | December 22nd 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Maybe, but more likely while those that made the 7s team go off and carve out an Olympic career, those that don’t will do something entirely different. Empirically, a massively successful 7s team hasn’t really tranlated to 15s for Fiji, has it? Certainly no lack of size, or speed, or passion, but…
Not saying it can’t be done, but if 7s in the Olympics is going to translate into 15s around the world the IRB is going to need some sort of development plan that they’ve never had to date. They may have money, but what the IRB certainly doesn’t have is form. And if they drop the ball in countries without a strong grounding in the 15s game, it is going to represent an opportunity for others.
And really, 7s as a training ground for mauling, scrummaging and line-outs? I think you are reaching – we’ll just wheel those players out against England then!
Shahsan said | December 22nd 2009 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
In 7s, you have to know the techniques on how to maul, ruck, scrummage and perform lineouts, just faster and more efficiently. You do it quick during a 7s game, but you would spend considerable time on them in training. Basic groundwork that expands easily when you play 15s, whether you are a back or a forward.
Fiji is not “massively succesful” in 7s. It is more succesful than most but over the past 25 years you could argue that NZ has been better (RWC 7s wins aside; Fiji has 2, NZ 1), and they have translated that success on the circuit into 15s. Sooialo, Muliaina, Masoe, Jane, Massey were all mainstays of the NZ 7s teams of the past 10 years.
Fiji doesnt do too badly in 15s when they get the chance to get everyone together and train a bit. They beat Wales in 2007 and almost pipped the eventual champions.
Come on, you must realise that if Fiji, Samoa and Tonga had the money to contract players for whole seasons and get them togther to train all year long, one of them would more likely then not have won the World Cup already.
The only reason they havent won and probably never will is because they all lack cold, hard cash. Their players are beholden to clubs, as the recent autumn tours and the 2007 world cup showed. But I digress.
AndyS said | December 22nd 2009 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
Yes, you do need to know mauling, scrummaging and line-outs, and they doubtless spend loads of time on them. But once moving to 15s, how much do Giteau and the bulk of the rest of the 7s players use those skills? Rucking, sure, but the rest are forwards skills and, for all but a couple of backrowers, all that time and effort in training might as well have been fitness training for all the use it will be in 15s. What hasn’t happened is the development of any tight 5 players, which can be a bit of a problem when running out with 14 other players.
As for Fiji’s record, my bad – I forgot that only NZ can ever be considered successful. Naturally Fiji being the only other team to have scored more than 1000 points over the last 10 years doesn’t in any way relieve them of the mantle of mediocrity. But seriously, you’ve just made my point – success in 7s simply doesn’t translate to 15s. You need money, competitions, continuity and the ability to train as a group, and if you’ve got those 7s form is meaningless (eg. most of the teams ranked above them). So my point in the second paragraph was that the IRB really ought to be looking at that rather than thinking 7s will sort it for them. They’ve not got a great record so far, as you’ve noted – the islanders still can’t manage those things after how many years? So by focusing attention on 7s worldwide, all they may be doing is creating an abundance of big strong backs, all about the same size, ignoring frontrowers and locks in the development pathway as countries divert funding to the Olympic version of the game. Where that could lead, who knows.
Shahsan said | December 22nd 2009 @ 7:21pm | Report comment
Andy, we are going round in circles.
Yes, of course the IRB has to capitalise but I’m arguing that 7s is a good way to get more countries interested in the game, countries that thus far, and despite the IRB’s best efforts, have not shown much interest in rugby union.
Yes, these non-traditional countries will still chase Olympic medals but the overflow ie the players who are slower, heavier, more massive, less suited to the 7s, will branch off into 15s and the IRB can then get to work on those. If enough of these guys go on to play for overseas clubs etc, their national team will one day be quite strong. eg Georgia
In that way, 7s serves as the ideal entree. And even if they don’t go on to be good 15s teams, there is nothing wrong with a vibrant 7s scene full of new countires playing the game.
As for Fiji, I didn’t say they weren’t succcesful, but look at the records: NZ has done better overall, but Fiji keeps getting the reputation as “sevens kings” despite not having had a decent team since the 2005 World Cup-winning team.
I think many Fijians are also tired of having this reputation foisted upon them when they want to be taken more seriously at 15s.
AndyS said | December 23rd 2009 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
So we’d probably agree that it will come down to the IRB’s ability to capitalise on the opportunity and translate interest in Sevens to involvement in Fifteens, particularly among those not suited to the short game. Here’s hoping, but my personal opinion is that there will have to be some almighty amount of game lifting involved.
Shahsan said | December 23rd 2009 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
That’s true, but the IRB have been trying to get into new markets, or trying to expand existsing small markets, with little progress. With the 7s, the Olympics will do much of the heavy lifting for us. The IRB can then go in where there is obvious scope.
Dogs Of War said | December 21st 2009 @ 8:59pm | Report comment
Against League? 7’s goes for 15 mins all up, has a few tries, but hardly any tension is able to be built up due to the frequency of scoring. How does that compare to a League game?
Shahsan said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:12pm | Report comment
Never watched a really good, tight 7s game, have you?
Dogs Of War said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
Mate, I like Union, so don’t tell me what I have or haven’t watched. The comment is in regards to 7’s being the game to take on League. How can you even compare the two, 7’s you have to put multiple games on in the day to keep the crowds there, you very rarely bring up old Rugby 7’s games in conversation saying what a cracker of a match, you may remember a good try though.
The good tight 7’s game, which is over rather quickly. It’s what we all love about the longer version of the game, otherwise 7’s and it’s entertainment would have taken over a long time ago.
Shahsan said | December 21st 2009 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
Well, i think King of the Gorganites’ comment is valid: 7s is a very good way to get people interested in the 15s game, much more than 15s has managed to do so far. To the uninitiated, playing and watching 7s — esp at the Olympics — is a good entree to the main dish. That is how it is a good defence against league.
And my reason for asking if you had ever watched a good tight 7s game is because you implied that you could not get tension in 7s.
Working Class Rugger said | December 22nd 2009 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
the simple facts are that the growth of 7s particularly in non-traditional nations has directly corresponded with further growth in the 15 man game. Tunisia are a good example of this. They have been popping up on the World Series for several seasons and thanks to that have become competitive in the 15 man. Only recently they were pipped by Namibia in the RWC Africa Qualifier. They are a good chance of actually reaching the RWC through the final qualifying stage if the play positive Rugby.
Siva Samoa said | December 24th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
Record numbers turn on to Rugby Sevens
(IRB.COM) Wednesday 23 December 2009
PrintEmail
Samoa’s Mikaele Pesamino outstrips New Zealand’s defence in South AfricaAfter just two events of the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series, early indications are that Rugby Sevens has gained further ground in the eyes of international broadcasters.
In October, the IOC Session in Copenhagen voted Rugby Sevens into the Olympic Games in 2016 and 2020, with the sport set to make its much-anticipated debut in Rio.
Since then, the sport has exploded in popularity and interest and the opening two legs in Dubai and South Africa suggest that it will enjoy new highs both in attendance and in television viewership. Over the course of the current season, figures for live and as-live broadcasting have far outstripped the record numbers recorded for the two events in 2008.
Figures released by the IRB’s broadcast management and distribution partner, Pro-Active Television, indicate that in Dubai the total number of live television hours rose from 156.5 to 188 – a 20% increase.
For the second event in George, South Africa, the total number of live televised hours rocketed by 32%, from 115.5 last year to 152 hours.
This was largely down to the increased appetite from new broadcasters taking the live pictures in the wake of the Olympic Games decision and the global success of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009.
“Rugby Sevens continues to go from strength to strength and now that it has received the ultimate seal of approval from the IOC, the sky is the limit. Its winning formula of non-stop, competitive action, world class athletes and a festival atmosphere has proven a major hit again so far this season with broadcasters,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
“A lot of the best action delivered so far has come from teams representing exciting emerging markets like USA, Russia and Kenya, who are all already more than a match for the more traditional Rugby nations like New Zealand, South Africa, England and Australia. That, in turn, means that the sport is very attractive across the board.”
Another major success story for the sport has been the addition of ESPN 360 as one of those new live broadcasters, taking the pictures to over 50 million houses in the USA.
The IRB Sevens World Series comprises eight tournaments in Dubai, South Africa (George), New Zealand (Wellington), the USA (Las Vegas), Australia (Adelaide), Hong Kong, England (London) and Scotland (Edinburgh).
http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/news/newsid=2035318.html