Australia withdraw RWC bids

Eurosport - Wed, 06 May 10:34:00 2009

Australia has formally withdrawn its plans to bid for either the 2015 or 2019 Rugby World Cups, saying the fees for the tournaments are too expensive in the current global financial crisis.

George Smith - Australia - 0

The Australian Rugby Union said it had wanted to bid for both events but was forced to pull out because it could not justify the cost amid the uncertainty of the world economy.

The ARU said the International Rugby Board had demanded a fee of 80 million pounds ($120.3 million) for 2015 and 96 million pounds ($144.3 million) for 2019.

The successful host nation was also required to bear all the costs of staging the event, with their only income derived from ticket sales.

"Rather than submit a tender that would be ruled ineligible, ARU has reluctantly decided to withdraw from the tender process for both tournaments," the ARU said.

"ARU is extremely disappointed but the risk associated with underwriting guarantees for tournaments six and 10 years into the future would not be in the best interests of Australian rugby."

Australia co-hosted the inaugural rugby World Cup in 1987 with New Zealand then staged the event alone in 2003 and were one of 10 unions who expressed interest in bidding for 2015 and 2019.

The IRB has received three confirmed bids, from England, Italy and Japan, and is expected to received a fourth from South Africa before Friday's deadline.

The successful bids are to be announced in July.

"While Australia is able to submit a compelling case to host the rugby World Cup in 2015 or 2019, it is unable to provide the guarantees necessary in full and without compromise," the ARU statement said.

"ARU would reconsider its position if, at any stage, the terms of tender were modified."

Reuters

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  1. WHy dont all the Unions within the IRB pay a percentage­ to the host nation, for hosting the World Cup?
    That­ way smaller rugby nations such as­ Canada/Argentina/Italy/Japan can realistically stage an­ event to the world without bankrupting the National­ Union and seeking Coca Cola/Visa/Matercard splatered­ billboards and riduculous named stadiums such as­ Ethihad Stadium, Jade Stadium, Ricoh Arena, and Coca­ Cola Park??

    Fat Cats head back to Football, Rugby­ doesnt want your sell out corporte image.
    Dad and son­ on a seat, hot dog/pie and a drink, watching rugby­ paying entertaining prices not mortgage sales to­ acquire tickets!

    From Joe, on Wed 10 Jun 4:23AM

  2. While I agree with the comment on IRB's greed, I do­ not fully support the one about the ELV's. In the­ Southern Hemisphere they have generally produced a much­ more open & attacking game - it is only inEurope,­ where they were watered down by the local Board's,­ that the game is still dominated by the incessant­ penalties. I would strongly support Japan for the 2015­ World Cup as the IRB should be expanding the game­ outside the traditional hosts.

    From Phil Vaudin, on Thu 7 May 1:14AM

  3. Right on 'John L'
    Rugby's going the way of­ football and is now being driven by money hungry fat­ cats that don't know and don't care about the­ core values of the game! It's the fans and the­ players who suffer...

    From mark h, on Wed 6 May 1:02PM

  4. You could be right but the last two RWC's have­ brought in in excess of 100M in revenue so is it­ unreasonable i ask????????

    From Sam_ P, on Wed 6 May 12:10PM

  5. Once again the IRB prove how out of touch they are with­ the real world. As previously shown by the trial of the­ ridiculous and unneccessary ELV's, the IRB seem­ intent on killing off the game of rugby that we know­ and love. They're demanding £80 million. For doing­ what? Good on you OZ. The IRB have tried to make the­ game as dull as possible by creating sleep inducing law­ variations and now they want to make as much money as­ possible for little or no effort. All rugby nations­ should follow the ARU lead and let's see how long­ the IRB's extortionate money grabbing lasts. I­ think the phrase is 'Killing the golden goose'.

    From John L, on Wed 6 May 11:48AM
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