Attempts to finalise the list of venues for the 2015 World Cup have run into yet more problems. The situation can be couched in blunt economic terms, because it all comes down to money — ‘crisis in bank of England bail-out plans’.
Note the lower case ‘b’. This has nothing to do with the actual Bank of England. And it has everything to do with how the RFU pitched for the tournament in 2009, with a heavy emphasis on financial imperatives.
In a presentation to the IRB, the union’s then chief executive, Francis Baron, played his trump card by saying: ‘These are turbulent times, but we believe that the bid represents a low risk but high potential return.’
Scroll down for video
Fiasco: The RFU are struggling to finalise a list of venues for the World Cup More from Chris Foy... CHRIS FOY: Gatland holds breath over Lions in final showdowns with O'Driscoll among the potential casualties 23/05/13 World of Rugby: Email farce has Aussies on back foot ahead of Lions tour 16/05/13 Chris Foy: Lancaster pledges to set England's 'X-factor' backs free in Argentina 09/05/13 Chris Foy: Standby Lions face a tricky choice of resting and going off the boil... or playing and risking injury 02/05/13 CHRIS FOY COMMENT: Robshaw's omission is harsh and cruel but making Sam the leading man is a sensible move 30/04/13 Chris Foy: Jonny, hero of HQ, is set for one last hurrah with Toulon... 25/04/13 Chris Foy: It's all kicking off over Six Nations on Friday nights 18/04/13 CHRIS FOY: Fillol's 14-week spitting ban shows folly of disciplinary system 11/04/13 VIEW FULL ARCHIVEBy then, world rugby’s governing body knew that it had books to balance, having awarded the 2011 event to New Zealand — a country that couldn’t generate substantial profits. Sure enough, that World Cup made a loss of NZ$31.3million (£17.3m).
So England came in on a ticket of massive revenue potential, which meant selling a massive number of tickets.
Now, the consequences of that approach are coming home to roost. The last World Cup attracted 1.35m spectators, but organisers of the next one must aim to sell 2.9m tickets, in order to meet an £80m guarantee to the IRB. For the target to be reached, the country’s largest stadiums must be used, and that is becoming a major problem.
This week, it emerged that Sir Alex Ferguson has vetoed use of Old Trafford, which takes away the biggest venue outside London.
ER2015 officials have held talks with Manchester City about relocating to the smaller Etihad Stadium, but the football club are reportedly willing to stage only one game.
Anfield was included in the original bid but subsequently removed, meaning that the desire to have a ‘geographical spread’ of matches will founder on a shortage in the North West.
Arsene Wenger objected to use of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, leaving the organisers desperate to include the Olympic Stadium.
Exeter’s Sandy Park is in contention, only because the bigger Ashton Gate in Bristol is due to be redeveloped.
The likely outcome of all this upheaval is that a disproportionate number of games will be held in the capital and ticket prices will be hiked.
Some noble aspects of the hosting vision, such as affordability for spectators and generating interest in the game in all corners of the land, are bound to suffer in pursuit of the bottom line, because England’s bid was pitched and approved as a cash cow.
Following the Irish Rugby Union’s decision to end Declan Kidney’s tenure as Ireland coach, the field of contenders has narrowed rapidly.Conor O’Shea has reiterated that he intends to continue his fine work at Harlequins, Saracens stated that Mark McCall is not available, and Vern Cotter has pledged his immediate future to Clermont Auvergne.
Out of the running: O'Shea is staying at Harlequins Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie is a front-runner simply because he is interested, but he is not the best qualified man. If the IRFU have any sense, they will conduct a close-range recruitment drive. They should see Joe Schmidt, the Kiwi who has worked wonders for Leinster, and refuse to take no for an answer, whatever it costs. He is the ideal candidate.English threat to Irish supremacy
By the time this weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals are over, there is a strong chance that the balance of power in European rugby will have shifted.
After four Irish winners of the premier event in the last five years, and an all-Irish final last season, the current campaign could reach the last-four stage without any provinces still in the mix.
English sides would be the main beneficiaries. Saracens — on ‘home’ ground at Twickenham — have it in them to beat Ulster, whose invincible early-season aura is not so pronounced now.
Across the A316 at The Stoop, Harlequins must go in as favourites against Munster, who were smashed 51-24 by Glasgow last weekend.
All smiles: Saracens host Ulster at Twickenham on SaturdayLater on Sunday, Leicester can challenge the mighty Toulon on the Cote d’Azur, but logic points to a home win, to set up an Anglo-French semi-final line-up; Clermont v Harlequins and Saracens v Toulon.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s rugby establishment are becoming concerned about an exodus of prime talent to Japan — drawn by lucrative contracts and relatively low-intensity competition.
Many Kiwis are struggling to resist this easy-money option, rather than putting themselves through the ferocity of combat in Europe.
Richard Kahui, Anthony Boric and Bath’s Stephen Donald are the latest All Blacks to join this migration to the land of the rising sum, following the likes of Jerome Kaino and Adam Thomson.
What used to be seen as a pre-retirement jaunt is now drawing young players. It is emerging as the biggest threat to the All Blacks’ global supremacy.
The last word
Amid on-going alarm in Wales about the state of the regional game, one solution being proposed (not for the first time) is an Anglo-Welsh league.
Putting aside all the many logistical, political and regulatory issues attached to such a vision, in this column’s opinion, it has real merit.
On the move: George North is heading for Northampton - but could he face current club Scarlets in an Anglo-Welsh league in the future?There is no doubt top-level, cross-border contests generate significant interest, which has positive financial effects. Practicality may make it a non-starter, but a 14-team league based on 10 English clubs and the four Welsh regions would be an appealing notion.
Scrapping the LV Cup would create space in the calendar, but an end to European competition as we know it may do that anyway.
There could still be promotion from and relegation to a beefed-up Championship, to keep the integrity of the English format. Now, over to the suits to make it happen…
addCustomPlayer('72erfgnqd9fb1jgkie2jvi8u7', '2FCC3D09B0604930BF7693E2714CA0E', 'uo68gj6hygcx16u1wbxq5sc1h', 636, 438, 'perf72erfgnqd9fb1jgkie2jvi8u7-uo68gj6hygcx16u1wbxq5sc1h', 'eplayer17');More... United create problems for 2015 Rugby World Cup by pulling plug on Old Trafford use, but did Fergie have a say? North to sign for Saints in the next 24 hours as Wales winger agrees three-year deal
