A shot in the arm for the game

Press, 20 May 1987, Page 42

A shot in the arm for the game

Reality emerges from a misty concept. The draw is made, there’s a quiver of apprehension as, inevitably these days, someone ■whispers “withdrawal” or “boycott” but it is the merest suggestion rather than the beginning of a threat What has been diligently pursued by New Zealand and Australia and received initially with trepidation on the other side of the world, is about to become the first World Cup of rugby. Minutes of the International Rugby Board meeting in March, 1984 ... "The board remained divided on the basic concept of such a competition but accepted the New Zealand intention to prepare a feasibility study. It was finally agreed between Australia and New Zealand that both unions

would co-operate in the preparation of a feasibility study to be presented to the board for consideration at its 1985 annual meeting ..." And that feasibility study projected concisely the need as much as the desirability of holding such an international tournament, pulling together nations without consideration of their proximity to International Rugby Board membership. The study took note — as had become urgently its concern — of the strength of a World Cup as a preservative of the spirit of the game thus pre-empting any future threats of professionalism brought about by entrepreneurs outside the game’s current framework.

And it stated: “World Cup rugby provides a magnificent vehicle for bringing together the rugby-playing countries of the world in a manner

that will help promote the game world-wide and will generate enormous international interest for players and spectators and provide competition for emerging rugby nations currently denied this opportunity ...”

That last observation has immense significance for the future of international rugby. At a time when New Zealanders are becoming blase about the presentation of international rugby the transfusion of new blood into that sphere has become of great consequence. The casual acceptance of another test against Australia or England or Ireland is the rescuer of familiarity. Where once a test match against any of the International Board countries whether in New Zealand or abroad would have the country in a frenzy, the development of touring has made tests commonplace. Rugby needs a World Cup to bring back to its adherents the emotional magic which has been in danger of dissipation and

without which no sport can maintain its stature. That has been of less consequence in the Northern Hemisphere where the four Home Countries and France are bound into a yearly tournament which stirs patriotism unfailingly year by year. That, and the place club rugby holds close to the heart of the British and French, was the reason for the rather grudging acceptance that a World Cup was in the interests of the game. It was into that defensive mentality that Australia and New Zealand had to inject some measure of enthusiasm: No such reluctance, of course, from countries which are crying out for wider fields upon which to express themselves through rugby ... Italy, Spain, Japan, Canada, Romania, the United States, Zimbabwe. The World Cup to those countries brings new incentive for young people to turn seriously to the game. The point is that this, for all its IRB connotations, is not an IRB tournament in the most important sense. It Is a tournament for all of rugby. The challenge for rugby itself is undeniable. The feasibility committee said: “The global demands of presenting sport and measure activities in a dynamic and enterprising manner creates challenges which rugby as a sport must address ... it is essential rugby administrations recognise a changing external environment, anticipate the needs of the sport and make change within the overall scope of rugby to meet these needs without in any way changing the ideals and principles of the sport. World Cup rugby would make this possible ...” So there is recognition of the challenge. That was

in 1985. The challenge is now. This first World Cup has to be a resounding success for the players and for the public if it is to sustain — or, indeed, improve — its credibility 'with the Home Countries.

Its objectives are to provide a tournament every four years which will produce the best possible competition and generate world-wide interest in the sport ... to continue to promote rugby as a unique amateur sport featuring the ideals of sportsmanship, keen competition, skill balanced with the social elements of a team sport so beneficial in building a better society ... It is seen as likely that, in future, • qualification matches may be necessary to gain admission to the World Cup proper. Considering nearly 150 countries have a playing interest in rugby now, and anticipating its further development, the content of the twenty-first century World Cup may well have to be revised upward from 16 countries. Russia? South Korea? Uruguay? Yugoslavia? Name it