RugbyFirst

[ncadario]

The IRB has confirmed that eight unions have expressed a formal interest in hosting the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia, Scotland and USA have all put their hands up to host the tournament following the success of the 2009 edition in Dubai. Wales were the surprise winners of the Melrose Cup on that occasion, Argentina were the runner-up, while Australia lifted the inaugural women's title.

The inclusion of Sevens as an Olympic sport in 2016 has raised the profile of the tournament according to the IRB.

Scotland, Hong Kong and Argentina have hosted the World Cup before. Murrayfield hosted the first tournament in 1993, with Argentina staging the finals in Mar del Plata in 2001. Hong Kong has played host twice, in 1997 and 2005.

Australia and the USA both host legs of the IRB Sevens World series, as do Argentina, Hong Kong and Scotland, while expansion would be the key consideration in bids from Germany, Russia and Brazil.

Applicants have until December 15 to confirm their interest, with the decision expected following the IRB's meeting in May 2010.

"The International Rugby Board is delighted with the phenomenal level of interest in hosting Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013," said Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset. "At a time when we look forward to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, such a strong level of interest from countries across five continents clearly highlights the global prestige of a tournament that has grown to become a major event on the global sporting calendar."

Source: http://www.scrum.com (with an little add mine about the result of the RWC of 2009)

Comments: Of course, I would like to play in Argentina, and maybe some games in cities inside the country and even in neighboring Uruguay.

[Big Stu]

I don't think it'll be one of the "established" rugby nations (tghat is established in either 7's or 15's). I think the IRB will be more than happy to see the tournament go to either Germany, Brasil or Russia. This will spread the word about rugby to a whole new audience leading up to the Olympics. My personal choice is Germany - huge population with people whose build is a natural for playing both forms of rugby at the elite level. They were once a rugby force to be reckoned with, but two world wars destroyed their attachment to the game. If Germany rekindled its interest and proficiency then rugby would surge through all of Eastern Europe. To clarify, I know that rugby is developing well, but it would develope faster if Germany got into the sport in a big way. A professional competition in Germany woudl be a huge draw card for the Romanians, Hungarians, Polish, etc.

My choice is therefore Germany.

[smartcooky]

I don't think it'll be one of the "established" rugby nations (tghat is established in either 7's or 15's). I think the IRB will be more than happy to see the tournament go to either Germany, Brasil or Russia. This will spread the word about rugby to a whole new audience leading up to the Olympics. My personal choice is Germany - huge population with people whose build is a natural for playing both forms of rugby at the elite level. They were once a rugby force to be reckoned with, but two world wars destroyed their attachment to the game. If Germany rekindled its interest and proficiency then rugby would surge through all of Eastern Europe. To clarify, I know that rugby is developing well, but it would develope faster if Germany got into the sport in a big way. A professional competition in Germany woudl be a huge draw card for the Romanians, Hungarians, Polish, etc.

My choice is therefore Germany.

Extraordinary. I had no idea that Rugby in Germany had been so strong....

The German Rugby Federation was set up in 1900, its first chairman being Ferdinand-Wilhelm Fricke. Germany was Olympic silver medallist in rugby union in 1900 and beat France twice in the 1930s.

In 1927, a German national rugby union team was organised. This team debuted on 17 April 1927 in Stade de Colombes in Paris, losing 5-30 to France. In May, Germany won the return match in Frankfurt 17-16 and the 3-14 los to France in the third international between the two countries on 18 March 1928 set the still valid record for home attendance for the German side, 14,000 spectators.

Long the preserve of the German middle classes, the most prominent German rugby fan/player was the controversial Albert Speer. Indeed, German rugby peaked in the pre-WWII period, when in 1938, Germany beat France 3-0 for the second time. However, during the subsequent years, the war and social upheaval effectively set German rugby back to square one. It was for a period seen as a very English game, which worked against it; as a result it lost its financial support and much of the popularity it had gained in the western and northern cities of Heidelberg, Hanover and Frankfurt.

Like all other German sport federations, the DRV was absorbed in the all-powerful Nazi sports organisation, the Deutschen Reichsbund für Leibesübungen. Hermann Meister, chairman of the DRV, a firm believer in a united Europe and a friend of France, tried to live up to his ideals but rugby by and large offered no more resistance to the Nazis then any other sport.

The sport was decimated by World War II as most of the players were killed. Germany, at its hight of performance in 1939, and second only to France in continental Europe, lost virtually its whole national team during the war and never recovered from this.

Rugby Union in Germany is a minor sport, but is currently the fastest growing team sport, having experienced a 7 percent increase in the number of players in 2007.

[JovialJim]

2nd in the 1900 Olympics....that sounds quite an achievement....until you read this:

Three National Olympic Committees (NOC) each entered a team at the 1900 games. They were France, Germany and Great Britain. The German and British teams were not national teams in the current sense of the word, but represented by clubs. Mosley Wanderers RFC played for Britain, while the Frankfurt Club represented Germany.[3] Rules were also different from today's, with 3 points for both tries and penalties, 2 points for a conversion and 4 for a drop goal.
France won the gold, beating Great Britain 27 points to eight and defeating Germany 27 points to 17. The final round robin match, between Germany and Britain was never played, as the teams were unable to stay in Paris until the scheduled match date. Other sources list the German team as second, because of the points difference, but no such determination was made in 1900

And im afraid Rugby in the Olympics didnt get much better than that. Ill leave that for others to search as its not representative of International Rugby as i know it.

[Paul]

Hannover has successfully hosted the European Sevens in recent years. Last year they got 30,000 there and they were mostly all German.

I expect Hannover or Moscow to be the final host of the Sevens World Cup. The USA being the third choice and favourite of the Americas. Moscow put in a strong, very professional bid for 2009.

Argentina won't as it hosted in 2001.
Australia won't as they don't deserve to in any way whatsoever. Adelaide being a stage for the Sevens Circuit is sufficient.
Scotland won't as they have hosted already and don't get great crowds for the Sevens Circuit.
Hong Kong won't as they ahve hosted two times already plus Dubai hosted this year. How could three in a row go to Asia?
Brazil won't because they will have the Olympics shortly thereafter and zero experience.

I think all could do well but development will be the theme and Germany could win the favor of Europe which is always decisive.

[smartcooky]

Hong Kong won't as they ahve hosted two times already plus Dubai hosted this year. How could three in a row go to Asia?

Interesting that you see Dubai is part of Asia (I know the iRB do too and I don't agree with them)

I see the Arabian Gulf, as being closer to the Med than it is to Japan, Hong Kong etc, and is more allied with Africa than anywhere else.

From personal experience, I can tell you that the people of UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other countries on the Sinai Peninsula do NOT see themselves as part of Asia.

[kiwilinzi]

Dubai really has nothing to do with Asia .. UEA , Saudi really are all Middle East Countries along with Qutar , Oman , Yemen etc . All those Countries bordered around the Arabian Sea ..

You are right S C , They would be more aligned in a way with North Africa regional wise .

You could hardly lump them in with Asia .

I think that Russia is the most likely to get the nod . Russia are ecstatic re the Sevens in the Olympics for 2016 and any bid by them will see huge Government support and cash tossed at Rugby in an attempt to gain whatever profile they can ..

Russia are dead keen to lift the Sport of Rugby to higher levels and to generate interest in Rugby throughout Russia that they will spare no expense to get a Tournament like this staged there ..

Russia will pitch high with a bid to the IRB to stage this . I think they are a lay down for the nod

Germany is a great option but I don't think they will match anything Russia present .

Personally . I would rather as a punter head off to Germany for such an event but Russia will win the bid i think ..

[ncadario]

All the posts haves well opinions.

While I wish the RC Sevens can be played in South America, Germany does not appear as a bad choice for the growth of our game in western Europe (apart from the Home Nations plus France and Italy). The opinion of Linzi about Russia is, also, for having in consideration, except for the foreing spectators and tourists in general the language and some habits still remains of the Soviet era.

They would also be good venues Spain or Portugal, but none have expressed interest. Rare in both cases because the activity of clubs is intense, and there are many players that could use them to grow more.

Moreover, let us not forget the influence there of German culture on Belgium, Holland and perhaps the Baltic countries and Scandinavia. This ensures participation of developing countries and the relocation of people to watch matches. If you play in Germany, the tournament could be a little longer and with more countries than hitherto. Do not forget that the Seven is dominated by countries participating in the global circuit and that has to expand it.

Besides, I think the former German politics should have no influence in these matters. Otherwise has excellent infrastructure left by the FIFA world of 2006, and tourism from all Western European countries is intense. The language don't haves problem because in great part of the country the English is the second tongue.

I vote: 1st: The Argentine(only by patriotic reasons), Brazil 2nd (by be a Southamerican and neighbor country), 3rd Germany (by the said above). 4th: Russia (under the arguments of Linzi yet adding my warnings).