IRB Press Releases
Title: Press Release following Annual Meeting
Rugby World Cup 1999 income almost ú70 million
Dublin, March 31: The profit and loss account for Rugby World Cup 1999 shows total income of ú69.7 million and net revenue of ú47 million, ú600,000 over the original budget forecast.
The figures were presented to the Annual Meeting of the Council of the International Rugby Board by RWC director and New Zealand Council member Rob Fisher on behalf of the Chairman Leo Williams, who was unable to travel from Australia for health reasons.
Fisher noted the surplus from the tournament was 68% of the total revenue, a figure he described as ‘remarkable in any context, be it sport, industry or business’.
Explaining revenue from Rugby World Cup every four years enables the IRB to continue to invest heavily in the continuing development of rugby as a global sport, Fisher noted a dividend of ú20 million was paid to the IRB Trust in 1998 followed by another ú15 million late last year. ‘In addition at the moment we have a Trust balance of ú19 million, including residual revenues from RWC 1995’, he said.
On the gross RWC ’99 revenue, the report showed that, of the ú69.7 million, ú44 million came from the sale of broadcast rights and another ú17 million from sponsorship and official suppliers. The comparable figures for RWC 1995 were ú19 million and ú9 million.
Expenditures included commercial expenses of ú13 million (18%) and ú2.5 million (4%) for the three-year schedule of qualifying matches and regional tournaments leading up to the 20-team finals, in October and November. Administrative expenses totalled ú4.9 million (7%).
Average crowds of 66,830 at the knock-out stages of the finals exceeded the average (61,000) for the last two Soccer World Cups, in the USA (1994) and France (1998).
The total attendance for RWC ’99 of 1.7 million represented 72% of stadium capacity in the five hosting countries, a 25% increase on RWC ’99 in South Africa. Average attendance across the tournament was 41,700, almost matching the 43, 517 average figure for the 1998 Soccer World Cup.
Commenting on matters of concern during RWC ’99, Fisher said: ‘There were areas connected with the running of the tournament where we could have done much better. These include a specific budget and programme for overall promotion, the schedule of matches, the methodology of supporters’ tours and travel, and a breakdown of the ticket arrangements for three of the matches – albeit the numbers involved were small.
‘These matters are all the subject of an acknowledgement that improvements are necessary in these areas and there are comprehensive recommendations which will be taken into account by the IRB with Australia and New Zealand, the organisers of Rugby World Cup 2003.’
Fisher commented any concerns should be seen in the context that RWC ’99 ‘set new benchmarks for the number of countries participating, the number of spectators, television audiences, the 209 countries where the tournament was broadcast, the extent of the terrestrial coverage, the number of visitors from overseas and the revenue generated.’
RWC Chairman Leo Williams prefaces his written report by saying: ‘ There is clear evidence of the overwhelmingly successful financial outcome of the tournament, of the vast numbers of people who attended the matches, and of the even greater numbers who watched on television screens around the world.
‘More difficult to value has been the enormous stimulus the tournament has provided to the already powerful growth of rugby as a major international sport. No one can quantify the development impetus to the emerging nations of playing on a world stage against the giants of rugby’.
More details from the Rugby World Cup 1999 report will be provided on the IRB website (www.irb.org).
Plans for Rugby World Cup 2003
John O’Neill, the Australian Rugby Union’s (ARU) Chief Executive Officer and one of his country’s two IRB Council members, told the Annual Meeting that very good progress was being made in the planning process for Rugby World Cup 2003.
The tournament is being hosted by Australia with New Zealand over a six-week period in October/November 2003.
‘We are working towards a Tuesday to Saturday match schedule while ensuring that we give the players three days between games’, O’Neill said. He added Australia expected to be in a position to sign the host union agreement with the IRB by October of this year
‘We will do our best to improve, EVEN on the fine achievements of RWC 99 and also learn from it and aim, with New Zealand, to get the tournament to run as smoothly as possible’, O’Neill said.
Eligibility report within 28 days
An independent judicial committee will meet within 14 days to consider the implications of the use of alleged ineligible players by Wales and Scotland in recent matches. The committee will be asked to report back to the International Rugby Board (IRB) within 28 days.
IRB CEO Stephen Baines said members of the panel will be South African Senior Counsel Jannie Lubbe, ‘a legally qualified person with rugby knowledge and experience’, England captain and British and Irish Lions centre John Spencer, ‘a former player of distinction’, and Ronnie Dawson, former IRB Council member and Ireland and Lions captain, ‘an experienced rugby administrator’.
The eligibility issue was considered by the Board’s Game Regulations Committee and then discussed by the IRB Council at its Annual Meeting in Dublin.
Baines said all member unions are being asked to confirm the eligibility of players who have represented their senior and next senior squads since January 1 of this year.
This information is to be provided within three weeks. Any issues arising from that, such as apparent breaches of the eligibility regulations, will be referred to a judicial panel.
The IRB had already decided the 12 major national unions represented on Council would be asked to submit formal documentation and supporting certificates/declarations to the IRB verifying the eligibility of players picked for their senior and next senior teams. The unions are those of Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.
Unions involved in this year’s six remaining qualifying tournaments for the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens, and in the IRB World Sevens Series, will also be subject to the new pro forma requirements, as will the four nations competing in the annual IRB-funded Epson Cup Pacific Rim Championship which are not Council unions – Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and USA.
The IRB Council Members acknowledged the primary responsibilities for ensuring eligibility requirements were met was that of the unions, Baines added.
‘We are agreed that slack practice, mistakes and misunderstandings are less likely to occur if the eligibility of selected players is part of a process that requires a greater degree of formalisation. This will enable us to start to build a database of eligible international players’, he said.
Acknowledging not all unions have access to the same detail of player documentation, he explained that alternative arrangements will be made if necessary. In addition Council noted:
‘Recent events have highlighted a number of issues that need to be revisited in respect of current international eligibility criteria. ‘For example, the position where there is an adopted family, or step-parent? And how does the three-year residential qualification apply to a person who has lived in a country for say seven of the last 10 years but not for three consecutive years? These are problems that are not catered for in the present regulations and need to be looked at carefully.’
A Game Regulations Working Party will investigate and report back within 12 weeks. ‘Thereafter a set of guidelines will be issued to supplement and explain the areas of current uncertainty. These will be brought to Council for approval at the Interim Meeting, in October. We will also consider moving to establish eligibility provisions for Under 19 and Under 21 players’, Baines said.
Touring Party
Council approved Australia’s proposal that uncapped players, on an overseas tour where the itinerary includes one or more senior international matches, be ineligible to later play for another country. The same provisions will apply to any player making an overseas ‘A’ team tour and where the itinerary includes a match against a team of the same status or higher. A proposal by Australia to remove the grandparent qualification was withdrawn.
7-a Side News
? Council confirmed all existing eligibility regulations apply to both the 15-a-side and seven-a-side versions of the game.
? Council was told by Bernard Lapasset, Chairman of the International Matches and Tours Committee, that it had not been possible to complete arrangements for England to host an 11th tournament in the IRB World Sevens Series. ‘Their interest was noted for 2001 when they would like a tournament to be incorporated into the competition’, he noted.
? It was also confirmed a player subject to a temporary suspension in seven-a-side rugby would be off the field for two minutes. In 15-a- side, the player is suspended for 10 minutes.
Video technology approved
Following trials by Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, Council approved the use of video technology, when available, to assist referees.
Use of ‘technological devices’ will limit the referee to consulting the video official when making in-goal decisions related to tries and kicks at goal, a player who could be in-touch close to the goal line in the act of scoring, touch in goal and the ball being made dead.
Australia’s John O’Neill told Council that the Super 12 experience with video technology had been very positive and used regularly for in-goal situations. ‘We found it enhanced the referee’s decision- making and added a lot of theatre to the game with the crowds quickly becoming involved.’
New Zealand’s Tim Gresson said the introduction of video aids had been very successful and widely acclaimed but commented there had been a few occasions when decisions took too long to confirm.
Council also approved a proposal permitting the use of a timekeeper to keep time and/or score. Until now this has been the sole responsibility of the referee.
Law amendments
Council approved a number of amendments to the laws. In the main these clarify existing laws. From now on the laws will be published in a new and more user-friendly format, The Laws of the Game Made Easier.
Amendments approved by Council on the recommendation of the Laws Committee. include:
? A stricter definition of obstruction to prevent players running in front of ball carriers.
? No scrum or line-out can be formed within five metres of the goal- line, consistent with all other re-starts close to the line.
? Red and yellow cards are now recognised in law giving wold-wide consistency.
? A player who is supported in the line-out must be lowered to the ground without delay.
The law changes take effect on August 1 in both hemispheres.
Two new IRB referee selectors
Two additional selectors, Roy Harvey (Canada) and Felise Vito (Samoa), have been added to the IRB committee that appoints referees, touch judges and assessors to the IRB panel. The other selectors are Tim Gresson (New Zealand), Chairman, David Burnett (Ireland) and Dick Byres (Australia). The expanded committee will soon confirm appointments for international matches to be played between May and August of this year.
Autumn tests confirmed
Council accepted the International Matches and Tours Committee recommendations for a programme of 17 international games in France, Italy, Ireland and the U.K. over five weeks in November and December. The matches are:
November 1: France v Japan.
November 4: France v Australia; Scotland v USA.
November 11: Scotland v Australia; France v New Zealand; Ireland v Japan; Wales v Samoa; Italy v Canada.
November 18: England v Australia; Ireland v South Africa; Scotland v Samoa; Wales v USA; Italy v Canada.
November 25: Italy v New Zealand; Wales v South Africa; England v Argentina.
December 2: England v South Africa.
Rugby and the Olympics
While rugby is unlikely to figure in the 2004 Athens Olympics, the IRB is optimistic the game can achieve participation status in 2002 with good prospects for active involvement in the 2008 Olympics.
Chairman Vernon Pugh QC advised Council 19 cities are interested in hosting the 2008 Games and that the IOC attitude to rugby is generally friendly, particularly in respect of the 15-a-side game.
‘If the IRB gets everything right over the next two or three years rugby should be back as an Olympic sport. We know Rugby World Cup 1999 made a significant and positive impression on the IOC and that additional television and press coverage on non-sports specific outlets were positive factors in assisting our pursuit of rugby becoming a participating Olympic sport,’ he commented.
IRB Officers re-elected
Vernon Pugh QC has been re-elected Chairman of the IRB for a four- year term along with Vice-Chairman Rob Fisher and Treasurer Tom Kiernan. The appointments were unanimous. The three will continue as Rugby World Cup directors on a pro-tem basis until the Interim Meeting of Council, in Dublin in late October-early November.
One new member union
Malta is the latest union to be accepted into membership of IRB. Council was told Malta met all the conditions for full membership. There are now 92 unions and one regional association in the organisation.
Peter McMullan
Manager, Media and Promotions
For further information please contact the IRB Press Centre,
Tel: +353 1 662 5444
Fax: +353 1 676 9334
Website: http:www.irfb.com