The International Rugby Board announced today the selection of the first two Participating Unions for the Rugby Sevens tournament at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei, next July.
"The IRB is delighted to announce the selection of China and Chinese Taipei as the first two Unions confirmed for the 2009 World Games," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset. "Both are emerging nations in terms of international Rugby Sevens competition and as a further step in their Rugby progression both competed in the IRB's flagship Sevens World Series this year."
Commenting from Beijing where he is attending the Olympic Games with IRB Chief Executive Mike Miller, Lapasset added: "This decision further illustrates the IRB's commitment to expand the sport on a truly global basis, a goal that underpins our ambition to secure the reintroduction of Rugby into the Olympic Games".
The inclusion of Rugby Sevens tournaments in all of the world's major multi-sport Games is a goal of the IRB. In addition to the World Games, Rugby Sevens is a core sport of the Asian and Commonwealth Games and is part of the South Pacific and other Regional Games.
Rugby Sevens will feature in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara. Discussions are ongoing for the re-inclusion of Rugby Sevens into the All-Africa Games.
The final day of the 2006 Commonwealth Games competition in Melbourne was played in front of a world record, single day, Rugby Sevens crowd of over 50,000 people as the Telstra Dome was completely sold out.
The popularity of Rugby Sevens is underpinned by the continued success of the annual IRB Sevens World Series played in eight countries each year and the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, played every four years. The Rugby World Cup Sevens 2005 tournament in Hong Kong was played in front of a record three-day sell-out crowd of 120,000 people. The 2009 tournament, to be held in Dubai next March, will be the first to feature a women's tournament running alongside the men's.
Ron Froehlich, President of the International World Games Association, believes that the inclusion of two emerging Asian Rugby nations will add to the renowned international flavour of the World Games.
"We are pleased to be welcoming two new nations to compete in the World Games Rugby Sevens tournament in 2009," Froehlich said. "The tournament has grown to become a highlight of the World Games sporting programme, providing an exciting spectacle for fans and participants alike. The inclusion of two such important Asian nations in the Rugby Sevens tournament can only add to the growing global appeal of the World Games."
Liu Rongyao, China Rugby Football Union Secretary General, added: "Having China's national Rugby team participating in the World Games will drive the development and growing popularity of Rugby in our country. Our inclusion in such a prestigious event will help to raise awareness of the sport and also support our goal of achieving long-term sustainable growth of Rugby in China, a sport that already speaks to millions worldwide."
Mr Carlson Lin, Vice President of the Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union, said: "Having the World Games in Kaohsiung will benefit sport in general in the community through promotion, recognition and competition. Having Rugby in the World Games has opened up many opportunities for Rugby players as they can improve themselves by playing against the best in the world and with the support of the authorities are better able to achieve their goals."
Held over a period of 11 days, the World Games is a quadrennial event organised by the International World Games Association under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and involving 32 International Sports Federations.