posted Oct 2, 2008

I agree with stu330. I don't think you can give the RWC to some of the developing nations, it would make a mockery of the game. It has to be a spectacle otherwise people will not be interested and that would have a very detrimental effect on the game.

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posted Oct 2, 2008

I think perhaps the world cup could be staged in Japan or Argentina but outside that no. North America would ultimately be a farce if the world cup was held there as there are only small pockets of interest in both Canada and the States and outside of those areas no on would be bothered. You can have noble intentions but at the end of the day you have to face the hard facts of reality.

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posted Oct 2, 2008

'The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of Italy hosting a RWC soon. Good climate, good stadiums and great food and wine. It would be a fantastic event for all and put rugby rihgt up there on the international stage.'

Yes and imagine all the empty stadiums when the big teams are not involved. It would not work. The 'good climate, good stadiums and great food and wine' world cup was held last year.

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posted Oct 2, 2008

'Why do you need massive stadiums over 40,000 bar a handful of World cup games??
If you think Twickenham, Wembley or Old Trafford will sell out Fiji v USA you a re very mistaken.'

Yes but the fixture would not be played there! Smaller fixtures would logically be played at smaller stadiums in England like Franklins Gardens or the Stoop.

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posted Oct 2, 2008

getinthebath

Ultimately I would like the RWC in England, but for those expressing the view that we should share the WC with developing nations I think the best option is Italy. The other nations supporters are more likely to travel to Italy than a very expensive Japan. However, if it was in England there wouldn't be a problem.

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posted Oct 2, 2008

True

Italy or japan, i have noproblem with either, but i don't believe in giving others the tourny for development to the detriment of top rugby nations. (What I mean is that Japan and Italy have both ploughed monry into developing there domestic game which other countries haven't

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posted Oct 2, 2008

"just that anyone says that Europs should not host the tournament until 2019 is totally wrong."

"I don't think you can give the RWC to some of the developing nations"

The expectation that Europe / the SH is entitled to a RWC every 8 years (and that's effectively what you're saying) is both ridiculous and outdated; if we want to expand the game then the founding members need to give more and take less.

"Yes and imagine all the empty stadiums when the big teams are not involved."

Rugby is a big (though not no 1 I will concede) sport in both Italy and Japan, and will grow bigger IF it is supported. Let's face it, Tonga-USA won't pack out many stadiums wherever it's played.

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posted Oct 2, 2008

'Rugby is a big (though not no 1 I will concede) sport in both Italy and Japan, and will grow bigger IF it is supported. Let's face it, Tonga-USA won't pack out many stadiums wherever it's played.'

Sorry but rugby is not a big sport in Italy. It will fill out big Six Nations games in Rome but outside of that the league struggles to attract fans and a world cup will have to rely on fans coming from outside of Italy to fill the venues. I think Japan would be different though - there is something about fans in that country coming along to any major event.

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posted Oct 2, 2008

I hope it is Japan in 2015 and England ALONE in 2019. The RWC pool games in Murrayfield and Cardiff were rubbish. I could not believe that the welsh didn't have a full house for Wales V Australia! Let alone some of the other appalling turnouts! If the IRB want a good world cup, the best ones have been the ones staged in ONE country only. 1995 in SA and 2003 in Aus. In terms of atmosphere and energy from start to finish, they were alot better than the others. I want Japan to get it though, they have INSANE stadia ( some of us might actually be able to get tickets for a change!) and a colossal infrastructure.NZ getting the 2011 RWC was a BAD call.

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posted Oct 3, 2008

"Sorry but rugby is not a big sport in Italy. It will fill out big Six Nations games in Rome but outside of that the league struggles to attract fans and a world cup will have to rely on fans coming from outside of Italy to fill the venues. I think Japan would be different though - there is something about fans in that country coming along to any major event."

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You cannot deny that it is only getting bigger in Italy though. And what better way to really raise the sports profile in that country than holding it's showpiece event there?

It would be easy for fans of other countries to get there, and you could guarantee that the publicity of the whole event and the atmosphere it creates in the towns & cities where matches take place means that Italians would really start to take an interest in the sport.

On the subject of the smaller team's group matches (USA vs. Japan, etc.) how about holding them earlier on the same day, in the same stadium as a match between some of the big sides: with tickets at a discounted cost for the first match if you have bought a ticket for the later match?

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