13/10/2009
ARU welcomes Rugby's return to Olympic Fold
Australian Rugby Union has welcomed tonight’s historic decision by the International Olympic Committee to return Rugby to the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The IOC members, meeting in Copenhagen, voted overwhelmingly 81 to 8 in support of Rugby Sevens after the code was one of two recommended by the Executive Board for inclusion in Brazil.
Golf was also accepted into the Games with a supporting vote of 63 to 27.
“This is a wonderful moment for our game, and a momentous decision by the IOC,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill.
“There is enormous status attached to being an Olympic sport. We are extremely proud and honoured to say we are, finally, returning to the Olympic family.”
Rugby Union has been played at the Modern Olympics on four previous occasions – in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924.
Australia competed just once in the Rugby competitions, in 1908, and won the gold medal after the First Wallabies to tour the UK entered the London Games and beat English county champions Cornwall in the final.
“Everyone in Rugby will be celebrating our Olympic readmission,” said Mr O’Neill.
“All our players, men and women, from those at the grassroots right through to the elite levels, can now have Olympic Games selection as an ambition.
“They can dream of climbing a medal dais, of receiving a gold medal.
“I know the younger players in our Wallabies squad will see it as a challenge to force their way into the Sevens squad in 2016.”
At the IRB World Cup Sevens in Dubai earlier this year, Cheryl Soon captained Australia to the inaugural women’s title.
Soon was in Copenhagen tonight as part of an International Rugby Board delegation that delivered a 20-minute presentation to the IOC assembly prior to their secret ballot.
“We want to play alongside the world’s top athletes,” she told the gathering.
Others in the IRB party included former All Blacks superstar Jonah Lomu, former Argentine Test captain Agustin Pichot, and IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
“We offer the Olympic Games young, passionate fans that will travel to the Games and fill the stadiums to cheer on Rugby as well as the other Olympic sports,” Mr Lapasset said.
“The IRB is also committed to working with every National Olympic Committee to develop their men’s and women’s Sevens teams and to promote the growth of the sports around the world.
“Rugby is reaching out.”
Mr O’Neill said the Sevens program, in Australia and around the world, would receive major injections of interest and profile following Rugby’s acceptance into the Olympic program.
The IRB currently conducts a Sevens World Series circuit with stops in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, England, and Scotland
The Australian leg of the eight-tournament competition is staged annually in Adelaide.
The 2010 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide will be played at Adelaide Oval from March 19-21