Asian rugby clubs will get assistance to capitalize on an expected "uptick" in interest in the game following next year’s World Cup after a "better than expected" pre-tournament engagement program, World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said, according to Greg Stutchbury of REUTERS. The Sept. 20-Nov. 2 tournament in Japan is the first Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia and Gosper said that the governing body was aware there were "infrastructure" issues that "needed to be worked on for them to leverage off the interest generated." Gosper said, "We know from past experience there is a huge uptick in interest and desire to get into the sport (after a World Cup). This is where we work very closely with the regions and the unions concerned ... to help them provide, mainly through their club system, the infrastructure ... whether it be coaches, referees, volunteers and so on, to absorb the greater interest as we go to a World Cup and what happens afterwards." Previous World Cups "had demonstrated significant increases in interest in rugby, he added," and one of the "major reasons" World Rugby granted the tournament to Japan "was to enter previously untapped markets." Gosper said, "What’s important to us is to see an uptick not just in participation but in the fanbase as we go forward" (REUTERS, 12/15).
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: KYODO reported World Rugby announced Saturday that its target of getting 1 million new participants in the sport in Asia "has been achieved well ahead" of the start of next year's Rugby World Cup. World Rugby Chair Bill Beaumont revealed that the governing body's legacy program, Impact Beyond, "has surpassed all expectations." Gosper admitted, however, that World Rugby was "not so naive as to say" it has converted 1 million new Asian players totally. He added that "the key now was turning those participants -- many of whose experience was one-off -- into regular players." Gosper: "We now have 1 million new Asian participants who can now hopefully be converted on a more regular basis" (KYODO, 12/15).
A BAD LOOK: In Sydney, Rothfield & Riccio reported Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter Beattie said that accusations of violence against women are "killing" rugby league. Reacting to a "horror" offseason in which five NRL players "have been charged with sexual or indecent assault, Beattie has vowed to kick guilty players out of the game." He said, "If we don’t respect women no one will respect our game. It is becoming an embarrassment. These alleged assaults against women are killing the game’s reputation and standing in the community. That will affect the game’s ability to attract corporate sponsorships and women to the game." Beattie added that the NRL "would closely monitor each case before determining appropriate action." He said, "As a lawyer, I know that everyone is entitled to their day in court. ... However, once the facts are clear and a determination is made by the court, a guilty verdict should see an offender have the book thrown at them" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/15). In Sydney, Emily Ritchie reported Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle suggested Beattie's proposal to impose lifetime bans on players convicted of sexual harassment and assault offenses "should be raised at the next meeting of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports." Castle: "Certainly rugby union sees no place for violence against women in society and within the football environment and we would certainly work with the other codes on the issue" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/16).
