International Rugby Board Wants Star Power To Be Featured At 2016 Rio Olympics

Int'l Rugby Board CEO Brett Gosper said that "household names" featuring in Sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympics "is imperative for rugby maximising its opportunity on the world stage," according to Ben Horne of the AAP. The game's int'l body "is encouraging international unions," including Australian Rugby, to "work through red tape issues and ensure the stars who want to play are allowed." The Austrlian Rugby Union "must work through a minefield" with Wallabies scheduling and Super Rugby clubs, who "don't want to give up their best talent." Gosper said that while the value of having out-and-out Sevens players "must be properly respected, rugby's chances of becoming a permanent Olympic sport may rely on an injection of star power." Gosper: "We've got to work very hard to ensure we'll be successful at Rio ... because a lot of money comes into rugby because of the Olympics" (AAP, 6/12).