Russia to host
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013
The International Rugby Board have announced that Russia will stage the
2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset made the
announcement at today's annual IRB Council meeting in London. Three
years after the World Cup in Russia, Sevens will feature at the Olympic
Games in Rio de Janiero with the battle for the gold medal set to become
the pinnacle of the shortened version of the game.
"Council Members were extremely impressed with the Rugby Union of Russia
bid, and we are sure that Moscow will host a special tournament for the
24 men's and 16 women's teams and the thousands of visiting fans from
all around the world," said Lapasset.
"Moscow has an exceptional history of delivering major international
sports events, and rugby is riding a wave of development in Russia
thanks to the Olympic Games decision and their historic qualification
for Rugby World Cup 2011."
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 will be the sixth Rugby World Cup Sevens
tournament with the inaugural tournament held in Scotland in 1993
followed by tournament in Hong Kong (1997), Argentina (2001), Hong Kong
(2005) and Dubai (2009) where Wales claimed the title. The announcement
also comes on the eve of the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in Moscow,
the first IRB fifteen-a-side tournament to be held in the country.
"Moscow has an exceptional history of delivering major international
sports events and Rugby is riding a wave of development in Russia thanks
to the Olympic Games decision and their historic qualification for
Rugby World Cup 2011. I am sure that this will be another memorable and
successful sporting spectacle," added Lapasset.
Rugby Union of Russia president Vyacheslav Kopiev said that it was a
proud moment for his Union and the growth of the Game. "It is wonderful
news to be selected as Host Union for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013," said
Kopiev. "The appointment to host Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 is of
enormous significance to Russian Rugby. We are grateful for the trust
that the International Rugby Board has shown us and accept this
appointment with pride, passion and respect for the responsibilities
that we will be undertaking on behalf of world Rugby."
The decision by the International Olympic Committee to include Rugby
Sevens in the Olympic Games, beginning in Rio in 2016, has provided an
enormous boost to the Game and planning is under way by the IRB on the
required qualification process for international teams. This forms part
of a major overhaul of the existing IRB Sevens Strategic Plan, a
collaborative process with all Unions that will outline the blueprint
for the further growth of the Game around the world in recognition of
this significant development.
"Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai raised the bar for this tournament
and ultimately provided a platform for Olympic Games inclusion
particularly the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens. Significant
crowds of 80,000 people attended across the three competition days, with
the event broadcast to over 760 million people in 141 countries,
smashing all previous tournament records," added Lapasset.
© Scrum.com