RWC 2015: the finalists.

[Prestwick]

Well, the nations bidding for the right to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015 are:

• England (and Cardiff)
• Italy
• Japan (with Singapore & Hong Kong)
• South Africa

Thats three NH nations and one SH nation. Three have had their £80 million entrance fee either fully or partially paid for by national governments while one is footing most of the bill itself with some government help.

My ideal RWC? Italy or Japan please!

 

[Steve-o]

Of course, ideally I would love the RWC to come to SA. I wouldn't be able to travel to either Japan or Italy. It'll also help us from inevitable 2010 FIFA WC hang-over which is why government is throwing their full support behind this bid. I bit of a greedy outlook, but hey, who doesn't want a RWC at home!

Japan deserve a RWC though. They've participated in every RWC since the inaugural tournament in 1987. They always entertain and always give their best eventhough they've only ever won 1 game, which was Zimbabwe in 1987.

Bids like these are business and Japan has everything to host this. Public transport, facilities, crowd support, $$$, etc. If Japan has the best proposal then logically they'll get it.

This logic excludes the RWC 2011 bidding fiasco of course...

 

[An Tarbh]

yeah sadly logic and the IRB don't really seem to go hand in hand otherwise we'd be heading to Japan in 2 years.

 

[shazbooger]

Italy please, followed by Japan.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ May 8 2009, 02:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Italy please, followed by Japan.[/b]

Exactly how I feel. Take the tournament away from Sanzar and the "home" nations. 2015 to Italy because they're further along in their development than Japan. 2019 to Japan so that they have 10 years to get up to scratch and put in place a proper fixture list against tier 1 nations.

 

[Steve-o]

I disagree. Japan should be 1st and Italy 2nd. You boys just want an easy trip to Rome!

What makes you think Japan will improve in 10 years? They've been involved in rugby's premier international competition 6 times. That's more than the Boks! Leaving them alone for another 10 years will mean they'll be 10 years behind.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ May 8 2009, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I disagree. Japan should be 1st and Italy 2nd. You boys just want an easy trip to Rome!

What makes you think Japan will improve in 10 years? They've been involved in rugby's premier international competition 6 times. That's more than the Boks! Leaving them alone for another 10 years will mean they'll be 10 years behind.[/b]

I wouldn't mind a trip to Rome, Milan, Turin or Florence!

I wouldn't complain if it was reversed and we saw Japan get 2015 and Italy 2019. The reason I think it might be more beneficial for Japan to get the tournament in 10 years is that, at present, they're nowhere near good enough and a 6 year crash course of regular fixtures against tier 1 nations would lead to lots of ugly results.

Japan's results at u20 level are poor and this is where I hazard to guess most of their 2015 squad would come from ie the 20 year olds now will make up their team in 2015 when they approach their prime. 10 years would afford Japan the opportunity to invest in youth - bring the top 15,16 and 17 year olds in the country into an intensive rugby program so that they're not just going to the World Cup to make up the numbers (which if we're honest, is what Japan are currently doing).

Invest in youth and more games against tier 1 nations will make Japan competitive. Focusing on just the latter would be disasterous.

 

[Steve-o]

I feel Japan needs a milestone in their rugby to start making real progress. Italy also just made up the numbers before they joined the 5 nations. I remember SA beating them 101-0 a year before they joined. SA will never put a score like that on them again. Joining the 5 nations was a milestone and they building on that.

You could argue a world cup in Italy will bring them fully into the rugby brotherhood. They've been on the fringe on 1st tier for years and a WC there could cause a rapid increase in interest in an already emerging nation.

I'll be happy if either get it.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ May 8 2009, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I feel Japan needs a milestone in their rugby to start making real progress. Italy also just made up the numbers before they joined the 5 nations. I remember SA beating them 101-0 a year before they joined. SA will never put a score like that on them again. Joining the 5 nations was a milestone and they building on that.

You could argue a world cup in Italy will bring them fully into the rugby brotherhood. They've been on the fringe on 1st tier for years and a WC there could cause a rapid increase in interest in an already emerging nation.

I'll be happy if either get it.[/b]

not quite though Italy were getting results prior to being brought into the Six Nations, in 1998 they beat a Grand Slam winning French side in France as well as regularly picking up wins against the home nations, bar England.

No doubt though that a world cup would be a huge shot in the arm for any youngsters contemplating a future in the game and those currently involved in the underage setups.

 

[Steve-o]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ May 8 2009, 07:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steve-o @ May 8 2009, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I feel Japan needs a milestone in their rugby to start making real progress. Italy also just made up the numbers before they joined the 5 nations. I remember SA beating them 101-0 a year before they joined. SA will never put a score like that on them again. Joining the 5 nations was a milestone and they building on that.

You could argue a world cup in Italy will bring them fully into the rugby brotherhood. They've been on the fringe on 1st tier for years and a WC there could cause a rapid increase in interest in an already emerging nation.

I'll be happy if either get it.[/b]

not quite though Italy were getting results prior to being brought into the Six Nations, in 1998 they beat a Grand Slam winning French side in France as well as regularly picking up wins against the home nations, bar England.

[/b][/quote]

Not a good showing for 5/6 Nations rugby if their best team got beaten by an Italian that got thrashed 101-0 by the Boks one year later & then 101-3 by the All Blacks in the same year. . Regular is a strong word to use when describing their success against the home nations.

Fact is they have progress with the rest of the top 10 'clan' of rugby. Before the 6 Nations they were playing the likes of Russia, Spain and the Netherlands. It would be a massacre if they faced those old opponents again.

 

[alexrugby]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ May 8 2009, 03:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Well, the nations bidding for the right to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015 are:

• England (and Cardiff)
• Italy
• Japan (with Singapore & Hong Kong)
• South Africa

Thats three NH nations and one SH nation. Three have had their £80 million entrance fee either fully or partially paid for by national governments while one is footing most of the bill itself with some government help.

My ideal RWC? Italy or Japan please![/b]

Italy or England (despite Prest holds for 80millions )

 

[Fa'atau82]

1st, Japan - 2nd Italy.

Both nations deserve it. Sure, they are both also-rans to most major teams, but half the reason for that is because they have always been the little brother in the shadows.

The reasons i chose them are different of course.

I chose Italy, because it needs a shot in the arm. It had that with the 6 Nations, and they have produced some very good players. This event would give Italy much needed rugby exposure and perhaps some of those wasted but no doubt talented footballers might just solve the backs solution for Italy.

I chose Japan, because it is an awesome place.. it has a very impressive infrastructure for hosting sports events as the 2002 World Cup showed, and it has great potential for rugby.. the reason why Japan are not a world beater is because in Japan only winning teams are supported, the rugby team has never really become a major force despite having improved by a huge margin since they lowest point with that complete murdering to the AB's in RWC '95.

If Rugby is a world sport, it must be held in a nation outside of the major powers in the NH and SH. Japan or Italy 2015 RWC would do for Japan what USA '94 did for US Soccer.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fa'atau82 @ May 9 2009, 06:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

1st, Japan - 2nd Italy.

Both nations deserve it. Sure, they are both also-rans to most major teams, but half the reason for that is because they have always been the little brother in the shadows.

The reasons i chose them are different of course.

I chose Italy, because it needs a shot in the arm. It had that with the 6 Nations, and they have produced some very good players. This event would give Italy much needed rugby exposure and perhaps some of those wasted but no doubt talented footballers might just solve the backs solution for Italy.

I chose Japan, because it is an awesome place.. it has a very impressive infrastructure for hosting sports events as the 2002 World Cup showed, and it has great potential for rugby.. the reason why Japan are not a world beater is because in Japan only winning teams are supported, the rugby team has never really become a major force despite having improved by a huge margin since they lowest point with that complete murdering to the AB's in RWC '95.

If Rugby is a world sport, it must be held in a nation outside of the major powers in the NH and SH. Japan or Italy 2015 RWC would do for Japan what USA '94 did for US Soccer.[/b]

totally agree fa'atau I would like to see Japan get 2015 ... they were cheated out of hosting 2011 and they deserve it. It would also be very good for Italy to host it... I think it would move them to the next level. Its not like they are lacking any facilities either.

 

[William18]

New Zealand were given the world cup for a simple reason. The IRB wanted a world cup to be hosted in a smaller country. I think it was realised that a country like NZ will never ever host a rugby world cup again. We were probably given it for sentimental reasons knowing that we won't host it again in the next 200 years. From an economic perspective it doesn't make sense.

I would like to see japan host the World Cup. Big country, love rugby, have the infrastructure and could spread the game through Asia. Best option, IMO. Unlucky not to get the last WC so should get this one.

 

[Prestwick]

I think one of the big arguments for both Italy and Japan is the "chicken & egg" argument but with both you can emphatically say that a World Cup would be a much needed shot in the arm for either country. I think Japan getting the 2015 slot would be best as the emphasis must be on getting the sport out of the private schools and universities and into every kid's life.

I forsee a top ten nation getting at shot at 2015 with a "minnow" being awarded 2019.

 

[tommowins]

Personally its a shame that Argentina didn't bother to bid, does anyone know why?

Italy does it in my book. We'll need it out of the Asia-Pacific reigon after NZL11 and Italy seems to look like they will benefit in the World Cup more. But both of them are obsessed in other sports. Italians are into soccer and Japanese are into Baseball/Soccer. I reckon it wouldn't be to bad in a country where there is no real sport as their no.1, ready for a Rugby Union takeover.

Georgia/Romania 2019?

 

[Prestwick]

The RFU tempts the IRB with some action at England's hottest football stadiums.

Including:

- Wembley Stadium
- The Emirates Stadium (I refuse to call it just "The Emirates" as it sounds stupid when you say "The Aresenal's The Emirates")
- Anfield
- Old Trafford
- St James' Park

Also they're going to be using some random stadium in central Cardiff, can't for the life of me know what its called

 

[Dooley]

Japan lost the hosting of the 2011 World Cup to NZ... The Japs deserve it this time. My opinion only!

 

[Aeros]

Ag pleeze daddy wont you take us to the rugby, all the world is coming to South Africa...



I agree with you guys though, Japan should get it.

 

[Prestwick]

If South Africa build a stadium in the shape of Jacob Zuma's head then I'd be up for a 2015 RWC in South Africa...