Rugby to push hard for Olympics

Dubai: The International Rugby Board is pressing ahead with its bid to have sevens reinstated as an Olympic sport, despite recent pessimistic remarks from leading Games official Jacques Rogge.

The president of the International Olympic Committee is a former rugby player, for his native Belgium.

But Rogge criticised the recent 15s World Cup, stating that he was unhappy about the quality of play, and warned that rugby sevens is facing "an uphill battle" to feature in future games.

The short form of the game last featured in 1924, when the United States won the gold medal. And it is now in competition with a range of other sports to be included in events from the year 2016.

Beth Coalter, the IRB's Tournament Operations Manager, said: "We still think that the opportunity is there for us to become an Olympic sport and in that respect the 2009 World Cup (due to be staged in Dubai) is so important.

"We will have 24 men's teams and 16 women's teams, and it will be a real chance for people to look at the (playing) numbers, the growth of the spectator base and the TV viewing figures.

"The series of qualifying tournaments for Dubai begins in January, in Uruguay, and it's a very exciting prospect.

"We feel that rugby should be in the Olympics and we are working very hard to make sure that our tournaments continue to be successful. Last year's World Series was the most competitive we've had and there was huge pressure at the top between the leading teams.

"Each time I return to a tournament I see big growth ... we just have to keep showing what rugby is doing in all the countries where we are active."