On the verge of how a sevens comp should be run...
Not bad for a "dying" game.
From the people at Stuff
Olympic push for sevens
05 February 2004
By TOBY ROBSON
New Zealand's sevens team could be playing for Olympic medals as early as 2012, but only if more countries can emerge as genuine title contenders.
"The biggest issue for sevens right now is really to push hard for sevens to be included in the Olympics," IRB sevens manager Mark Egan said yesterday.
"If all goes to plan we would like to think sevens could be included in 2012."
That could see sevens spread to new horizons: with Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro the nine cities bidding for the Olympics in 2012.
But Egan said the International Olympic Committee would need to be convinced sooner rather than later.
The IOC meets in Singapore in 2005 when it will vote on which sports, if any, will be added to the Games.
"We continue to lobby them in a positive way.
"A lot of the IOC members have attended sevens tournaments now and seen it played.
"IOC president Jacques Rogge said at the Rugby World Cup in Sydney last year that he would like to see sevens at the Games."
Rogge played 10 rugby tests for Belgium, but does not vote at the general assembly.
But Egan said making the series more competitive was the key.
"At the moment you see England, New Zealand, South Africa and maybe Fiji always there at the top.
"That's why we are trying to develop the satellite tours and as time goes on other teams will become more competitive. That's not going to happen overnight."
After trimming the series from 11 to eight tournaments Egan said the IRB was satisfied sevens could now grow in terms of coverage and popularity.
Fox Sports was televising the first North American tournament in Los Angeles on February 14 and February 15 live to 25 million viewers for four hours each day and showing highlights packages of the others.
The first tournament of the 2003-04 series in Dubai saw crowds rise to 23,000, up 6000 on the previous year.
Not bad for a "dying" game.
From the people at Stuff
Olympic push for sevens
05 February 2004
By TOBY ROBSON
New Zealand's sevens team could be playing for Olympic medals as early as 2012, but only if more countries can emerge as genuine title contenders.
"The biggest issue for sevens right now is really to push hard for sevens to be included in the Olympics," IRB sevens manager Mark Egan said yesterday.
"If all goes to plan we would like to think sevens could be included in 2012."
That could see sevens spread to new horizons: with Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig, London, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro the nine cities bidding for the Olympics in 2012.
But Egan said the International Olympic Committee would need to be convinced sooner rather than later.
The IOC meets in Singapore in 2005 when it will vote on which sports, if any, will be added to the Games.
"We continue to lobby them in a positive way.
"A lot of the IOC members have attended sevens tournaments now and seen it played.
"IOC president Jacques Rogge said at the Rugby World Cup in Sydney last year that he would like to see sevens at the Games."
Rogge played 10 rugby tests for Belgium, but does not vote at the general assembly.
But Egan said making the series more competitive was the key.
"At the moment you see England, New Zealand, South Africa and maybe Fiji always there at the top.
"That's why we are trying to develop the satellite tours and as time goes on other teams will become more competitive. That's not going to happen overnight."
After trimming the series from 11 to eight tournaments Egan said the IRB was satisfied sevens could now grow in terms of coverage and popularity.
Fox Sports was televising the first North American tournament in Los Angeles on February 14 and February 15 live to 25 million viewers for four hours each day and showing highlights packages of the others.
The first tournament of the 2003-04 series in Dubai saw crowds rise to 23,000, up 6000 on the previous year.
