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ARU withdraw 2015 bid

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An Tarbh

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Australia withdraws 2015 World Cup bid

Monday, 20 April 2009 12:05

Australia has withdrawn its bid for the 2015 World Cup and may not bid for 2019 due to an 'exorbitant' guarantee fee charged by the International Rugby Board, the country's rugby union chief said.

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief executive John O'Neill said it would be a struggle to find a bank willing to guarantee the 96 million pound ($140 million) hosting fee amid the global credit crunch and 10 years in advance of the 2019 World Cup.

'We won't bid for 2015. We're working on a bid for 2019, but I've got to say the numbers are horrendously difficult to justify with that level of tournament fee,' O'Neill told Australian Associated Press.

'As a board, because we're a public company, our directors are saying well that's a contingent liability we would have to carry on our balance sheet and a bank isn't going to guarantee it.'

O'Neill said he was sure the IRB was aware the world economic recession was affecting rugby but that made it 'even harder to get your head around a 96 million pound tournament guarantee 10 years out.'

Australia, along with England, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, confirmed their intention to bid for the 2015 World Cup last year.

England has since signalled its bid could be in jeopardy because of the difficulty of making the up-front payment amid the global financial crisis although the British government came out in support of the bid in February.

Japanese officials have said the crisis would not affect their bid.

The IRB will make its decision on the host nation for the 2015 and 2019 tournaments on 28 July.

RTÉ Sport
 
It will be fantastic when all the world cups are in Europe.

The IRB are a bunch of no good crooks, just play into the hands of the Northern unions why don't you.
 
Naw, the flaw in the statement is that you're assuming the UK government is standing ready with a blank cheque to pay for this. Not even the RFU can afford that sum and the British government run by a bunch of "beautiful game" mad luvvies isn't going to fund the RFU's entry fee into hosting a RWC.

If the IRB insist on the £96 million up front then the future will be RWCs being hosted in Russia, China, the Middle East and Japan. Basically nations who are quite happy to lose £100 million or so for the privilege of hosting a prestige event.

Northern Unions, Southern Unions; it don't make a difference 'cause we're all dinosaurs in this game now and we're slowly but surely all being out muscled. Even England.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BLR @ Apr 20 2009, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
It will be fantastic when all the world cups are in Europe.

The IRB are a bunch of no good crooks, just play into the hands of the Northern unions why don't you.[/b]


*cough
2011RWClogo.jpg
cough*
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Apr 20 2009, 11:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BLR @ Apr 20 2009, 03:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It will be fantastic when all the world cups are in Europe.

The IRB are a bunch of no good crooks, just play into the hands of the Northern unions why don't you.[/b]


*cough
2011RWClogo.jpg
cough*[/b][/quote]
Well I suppose they have to give one out to rugbys overall dominant power before they start selling the soul of the game to the highest bidder. Ah well, the unions are just as bad.
 
Good thing we have withdrawn too. We need an effective infrastructure in place before we can even consider a RWC bid.
Now we only need England, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Wales to withdraw their bids and Japan will be set :D
 
More reason why the tournament fee is just stupid. The ARU clearly can't afford the cost with rugby really struggling in Australia right now.
 

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