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England looks set to withdraw from bidding to host the 2015 RWC: “Francis Baron (chief executive of the RFU) said any Union bidding to host the tournament must guarantee the global governing body what he labelled a ‘very large sum’ of profit”.
“However, Baron said the financial return envisaged by the IRB was unlikely to be realised following problems caused by the worldwide credit crunch.
“‘Home unions now have to commit to paying a very large tournament fee to the IRB that has to be guaranteed and under written,’ Baron said Thursday. ‘This has changed the financial dynamics of bidding for tournaments substantially and puts an absolutely massive financial risk on the bidding union. Our initial predictions make it unlikely that England could actually make a profit out of hosting a World Cup in 2015.’
Last year’s World Cup in France delivered the IRB a profit of some 90 million pounds (148 million dollars).
The IRB council will announce the 2015 and 2019 World Cup host unions in July 2009.
This will be the first time the hosts of two Rugby World Cups will have been revealed simultaneously, with a view to giving an emerging nation a better chance of hosting the event for the first time after Japan controversially lost out to New Zealand in the race to stage the 2011 tournament.”
What does this mean for the RWC?
With the best will in the world, surely rugby needs to be showcased in the solid rugby playing nations, and not be sold by the IRB to the highest bidder, or we’ll end up seeing the RWC in Dubai every four years!
The really good thing about 2011 is that it will be a rugby player’s, rugby fan’s World Cup, a stripped down and grassroots version.
And that’s what we want from New Zealand, but surely if England wont be able to host it in 2015, no rugby nation will? Has the IRB compleltely lost touch with reality and the real nature of the game?
All this comes at a time when Northern Hemisphere fans are almost disinterested in national Tests, turning away from the limited ticketing opportunities in favour of their club scene, and when the romance of old style Lions tours are being spoken of.
At this time, the IRB risks a situation where the club reigns, the Lions are played, and maybe one Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere test window opens each year, but the Rugby World Cup dies.
And all for greed.
There is a real sense in the Northern Hemisphere that the international game is for the corporates, and the club game is for the real fans. So do we really want these IRB execs to continue to undermine the game?
Do we want a sport where an Aussie kid, a Kiwi kid, a Saffer kid or a Pommie kid will sweat blood for the game, give lifetimes to the game, but never see a World Cup played on their own soil?
Or do we sweep out the IRB and start fresh?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.