Future Rugby World Cups

Doctor Zaius

This is something that has bugged me for awhile now. Why dont the IRB give the hosting of the rugby world cup to developing rugby nations. nations that have an established national side yet the domestic game has yet to really take off. For example Japan wanted to host the event in 2011 yet New Zealand won out. Surely giving the competition to Japan would have given the sport a massive boost not alone in Japan but throughout Asia, it would have shown rugby to be a truly world wide sport. if I had my way this is where the world cups would be played.

2015: Italy
2019: Japan
2023: USA (localised to either east or west coast)
2027: Argentina

The arguments could be made that perhaps the local crowds wont fill the stadiums but I think through proper marketing the crowds would come.

I understand the host nations have to provide a hefty bond to the IRB which is one drawback but overall I feel this is a great method for the game to expand.

Any thoughts?

thebossanova

2015 is already England, and 2019 is Japan.

After the next world cup in NZ, England was chosen as the IRB will need to top up the coffers.

Italy could possibly host a WC, but Argentina could not imho.

toomevara

thebossanova wrote: »

but Argentina could not imho.

I reckon the argies could do it given the chance, it certainly would be a fantastic place to travel to, of course the major impediment would be the massive asking price levied by the RWC organisers.

Doctor Zaius

thebossanova wrote: »

2015 is already England, and 2019 is Japan.

After the next world cup in NZ, England was chosen as the IRB will need to top up the coffers.

Italy could possibly host a WC, but Argentina could not imho.

Christ, I completely forgot that England and Japan were chosen. head like a sieve these days, my bad. The general point still stands though.

I think Argentina could pull it off if they had full access to the soccer stadiums.

ScrubsfanChris

thebossanova wrote: »

2015 is already England, and 2019 is Japan.
After the next world cup in NZ, England was chosen as the IRB will need to top up the coffers.

Exactly. England was chosen purely for the fact it would take in the most money/revenue needed after the eventual profit failure of New Zealand.

Italy in 2023 anyone?

anonymous_joe

Doctor Zaius wrote: »

Christ, I completely forgot that England and Japan were chosen. head like a sieve these days, my bad. The general point still stands though.

I think Argentina could pull it off if they had full access to the soccer stadiums.

If.

Football season starts in and around September there, and tends to be fairly busy and intense.

Absolutely lovely country, and any excuse to go back would suit me fine.

PhatPiggins

anonymous_joe wrote: »

If.

Football season starts in and around September there, and tends to be fairly busy and intense.

Absolutely lovely country, and any excuse to go back would suit me fine.

If only for the steaks, the wine and the women

Podge_irl

toomevara wrote: »

I reckon the argies could do it given the chance, it certainly would be a fantastic place to travel to, of course the major impediment would be the massive asking price levied by the RWC organisers.

Considering how poorly the UAR is run it doesn't bode well for their ability to organise something as large as the RWC.

Amazotheamazing

I think there needs to be a balance to it, there's no point holding it in a place that simply has no interest in it.

Even smaller events like the Churchill Cup don't attract much crowds, just because something's a world cup doesn't mean crowds will come out.

Ideally in 10 years time tournaments like the Nations cup, the FIRA comp and the nations Cup will have grown interest in the game.

myflipflops

Phone the IRFU and complain. By all accounts, New Zealand got the 2011 World Cup because the Irish agreed to vote for them in return for the All Backs visiting Dublin to play some tests. The Japenese were seriously pissed about it.

TheGod

In terms of where would be best to host World Cups I think the smaller the country the better. At France2007 you wouldn't of even known a world cup was on.

So heres some suggestions that might seem weird but could be very successful

Dubai -
(would have no problem building fantasitc stadiums and would go out of their way to ensure a brilliant world cup - alcohol could be a problem though as you can only get it in restaurants....then again I remember in France2007 stadiums only selling non alcoholic beer :rolleyes:) Enough ex pats to ensure it would be a success and many would love to travel to Dubai.

Jamaica -
I can hear the wtf sounds but I reckon it would be a fantastic venue. They have the stadiums and the atmosphere would be brilliant. During the cricket they got loads of the locals to attend the games and once again lots of people would love to travel to Jamaica for a World cup. They actually applied to host it for 2015 as well!

Ireland -
Thats right. We know Ireland would go out of it's way to host the world cup. We have re developed Landsdowne, Croke Park, RDS, Thomond Park, Ravenhill, Donnybrook, Semple Stadium, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Gaelic Grounds, Fitzgerald Stadium etc. - Would need the GAA to approve but if the IRFU and Irish government offered to redevelop the grounds they might just accept

Hong Kong -
Once again, great stadiums, lots of ex pats and would make a huge effort to make the World Cup a success. 7s rugby is very popular there amongst the locals so they shouldn't have problems filling the stadium.

Portgual -
Great stadiums, would be desirable for a lot of travellers, not too big a country and hosting the World Cup could be a huge boost to interest in the country.

Amazotheamazing

TheGod wrote: »

Ireland -
Thats right. We know Ireland would go out of it's way to host the world cup. We have re developed Landsdowne, Croke Park, RDS, Thomond Park, Ravenhill, Donnybrook, Semple Stadium, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Gaelic Grounds, Fitzgerald Stadium etc. - Would need the GAA to approve but if the IRFU and Irish government offered to redevelop the grounds they might just accept

Gaelic pitches are too big for rugby, and the stadia aren't good enough with the exception of Croke Park. There's no Corporate facilities (for example) in most GAA stadia. Honestly, I have no huge desire to see the GAA open their grounds, I'm pretty sick of the soulless Croke Park for Ireland games.

If Ireland were to hold it, we should do it combined with Scotland, get Murrayfield and and Hampden Park involved and you've enough stadia. Maybe add one of the Celtic/Rangers grounds and we're away in a hack.

TheGod

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Gaelic pitches are too big for rugby, and the stadia aren't good enough with the exception of Croke Park. There's no Corporate facilities (for example) in most GAA stadia. Honestly, I have no huge desire to see the GAA open their grounds, I'm pretty sick of the soulless Croke Park for Ireland games.

If Ireland were to hold it, we should do it combined with Scotland, get Murrayfield and and Hampden Park involved and you've enough stadia. Maybe add one of the Celtic/Rangers grounds and we're away in a hack.

You could resize the pitches like they do at Croke Park. Obviously the stadiums would have to be redeveloped. As for Croke Park being soulless - Leinster v Munster 2009.

Tristram

I realise there's an argument out there for giving Japan the RWC sooner but to be honest if you see the state of the sports world over here you'd have to wonder what kind of lasting effect hosting the competition can realistically have. I think for rugby to get the kind of boost that you would desire over here you would have to allow Japan to host two RWCs within a reasonably short space of time and hope that their national team could compete. Unfortunately the latter simply will not happen any time soon. Rugby is played in very few regions here and is a hell of along way down the ladder when it comes to sports kids are going to pick. Mmassive population and all that there is here most kids will never ever in their lifetime have the chance to play rugby. A good few recognise the name of the game but have never even seen a game.

Amazotheamazing

TheGod wrote: »

You could resize the pitches like they do at Croke Park. Obviously the stadiums would have to be redeveloped. As for Croke Park being soulless - Leinster v Munster 2009.

Croke Park is where you are about 5 miles away from the pitch, it's crap for rugby and screw the non-believers, give me Lansdowne anyday.

In a Gaelic stadium you'll be 3,000 light years away from the pitch, why bother?

Build a proper stadium in Cork, upgrade Dubarry Park to 15,000 (think it's 10,000 now?), try and find a decent stadium in Derry (Brandywell much good?) and you'd have a few in Dublin (Tallaght, Donnybrook, RDS, Lansdowne, Croke), add the bigger Scottish stadia and we're there more or less without the GAA opening their provincial grounds.

Doctor Zaius

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

In a Gaelic stadium you'll be 3,000 light years away from the pitch, why bother?

Build a proper stadium in Cork, upgrade Dubarry Park to 15,000 (think it's 10,000 now?), try and find a decent stadium in Derry (Brandywell much good?) and you'd have a few in Dublin (Tallaght, Donnybrook, RDS, Lansdowne, Croke), add the bigger Scottish stadia and we're there more or less without the GAA opening their provincial grounds.

Brandywell has a dog track around it I think so you're gonna be away from the pitch there as well but it's the same in the Sportsground and personally I dont think it makes that much of a difference. Talk of that new pitch for Ulster has fallen through completely as well hasn't it? The one on the grounds of the Maze Prison.

Cork could seriously do with a new general stadium, Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a kip and Musgrave Park is too small.

Amazotheamazing

Doctor Zaius wrote: »

Brandywell has a dog track around it I think so you're gonna be away from the pitch there as well but it's the same in the Sportsground and personally I dont think it makes that much of a difference. Talk of that new pitch for Ulster has fallen through completely as well hasn't it? The one on the grounds of the Maze Prison.

Cork could seriously do with a new general stadium, Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a kip and Musgrave Park is too small.

The Maze stadium project is cancelled afaik, but there's a series upgrades going on at Ravenhill. Pity about the Brandywell, any other soccer grounds of any calibre in the North, afaik, Winsdor Park is also a dive.

Cork will never have a general stadium, the GAA is too strong there, and Cork's GAA was opposed to opening the grounds, iirc.

Doctor Zaius

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

The Maze stadium project is cancelled afaik, but there's a series upgrades going on at Ravenhill. Pity about the Brandywell, any other soccer grounds of any calibre in the North, afaik, Winsdor Park is also a dive.

Cork will never have a general stadium, the GAA is too strong there, and Cork's GAA was opposed to opening the grounds, iirc.

Yeah I believe Windsor Park is a kip as well, wouldn't know too much about the other soccer stadiums up there. pity the Maze stadium project fell through.

There were whispers a year or two ago about a new stadium in Cork but yeah the GAA in Cork is too strong and put a stop to that talk. Pairc Ui Chaoimh needs to be levelled to the ground, the place is actually dangerous if there's a crowd, as discussed last summer on the GAA forum.

thomond2006

A world cup hosted by Ireland would be an amazing event.

ScrubsfanChris

thomond2006 wrote: »

A world cup hosted by Ireland would be an amazing event.

I think that there is more of a chance of hosting a Celtic Nations World Cup. (ie: Ireland, Wales, Scotland)

Malmedicine

1. The world cup is a serious money spinner for the IRB
2. The IRB gives money to the smaller nations to develop the game.
3. If the world cup tanks and doesn't make lots of money this has a knock on effect on the smaller nations recieving IRB money
4. Holding a rugby tournament in a developing nation i.e Japan is a seriously risky move and may turn out to be harmful for the smaller developing nations. New Zealand in 2011 looks like it might be moderately successful and will be followed by England in 2015 which will definately be successful! Why ? Because geographically you have a large amount of fans close by (reducing travel costs) and a large ex pat community. Japan in 2019 could be anything (relatively small fan base, high travel costs and high accomodation costs).
5. Hosting a world cup entirely in Ireland is a non runner. Ravenhill (improvement needed), Lansdowne Rd., RDS (massive improvement needed) , Thommond Park and possibly a Cork stadium or Sportsgrounds( infact scrap that if you were to pour money into a connaught ground I'd make it Dubarry Park) . Use these stadia and combine with either Scotland or Italy (that would be cool eh?) to run the world cup.

PhatPiggins

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

I think that there is more of a chance of hosting a Celtic Nations World Cup. (ie: Ireland, Wales, Scotland)

As a rule of thumb a WC should be confined to one country at a time. The 99 WC with all the country hoping was crap.

anonymous_joe

PhatPiggins wrote: »

If only for the steaks, the wine and the women

Can't think of anything else I'd need.

Wonderful country.