Rugby at the Olympics - Petition

[Patto]

If you would like to assist Rugby becoming an Olympic sport then go to www.olympic-rugby.org
Sign the petition and watch the game grow.
Rugby was an Olympic sport in the early 1900's, let's get it back permanently.
The USA are the defending champions - great marketing material for the game and a real incentive for Russia and China to promote the game. China has said it will pour money into the game if it goes Olympic. :yay

 

[louie]

no

 

[Patto]

no

Why would a rugby supporter respond in the negative. Would love to have an intelligent response. Maybe you can show me the error of my thinking.

 

[cyclopath]

Also no.
Like louie, I am a real rugby supporter. Not wanting rugby in the Olympic games has nothing to do with that. I think rugby is well served by the RWC, 6N and 3N, world 7s circus and Commonwealth games 7s.
How do you meaningfully fit it into the Olympics? "Smaller" rugby nations would not likely qualify (you would have to have qualification or else the numbers would be unmanageable) so it would be another de-facto RWC in the year after a RWC. If it is 7s, the IRB already has that going non-stop. 15-a-side would be a real challenge in terms of getting enough venues to get the games all done.
The IRB would melt down, the European clubs would melt down (having enough problems releasing players as it is to fit into the various "windows" for internationals). The various unions would not give up or jeopardise their broadcast deals and $$$$ that go along with them.
The players are already getting overdone.
I'm sure there are other equally good reasons I haven't mentioned.

 

[RugbyReg]

wow, I'd love it in. I've signed.

What a thrill. An Olympic Gold is still the ultimate I reckon.

The funding side of things is handy too. It would open up significant funding opportunities for the sport in countries like the US, Kenya, Brazil etc. Even Australia.

Bring it on I say.

 

[Patto]

Also no.
Like louie, I am a real rugby supporter. Not wanting rugby in the Olympic games has nothing to do with that. I think rugby is well served by the RWC, 6N and 3N, world 7s circus and Commonwealth games 7s.
How do you meaningfully fit it into the Olympics? "Smaller" rugby nations would not likely qualify (you would have to have qualification or else the numbers would be unmanageable) so it would be another de-facto RWC in the year after a RWC. If it is 7s, the IRB already has that going non-stop. 15-a-side would be a real challenge in terms of getting enough venues to get the games all done.
The IRB would melt down, the European clubs would melt down (having enough problems releasing players as it is to fit into the various "windows" for internationals). The various unions would not give up or jeopardise their broadcast deals and $$$$ that go along with them.
The players are already getting overdone.
I'm sure there are other equally good reasons I haven't mentioned.

Cyclopath,
How is it that a real Rugby supporter does not know that the proposed Olympic format is 7's Rugby. Both men and women...we get the hand that rock's the cradle. The issues you raised are non events.
The great advantage is that nations such as China , Russia and the US will devote olympic funding to Rugby. There will be a new world order at the 7's level which will spread to the 15 man game. The established nations will need to rise to the new age threat and will find the resources from new adherants traditionally involved in other sports..the desire for Olympic gold is a very strong motivator.
The pro era means ..GROW OR DIE and I loved the pre pro era but it will never return..

 

[cyclopath]

Also no.
Like louie, I am a real rugby supporter. Not wanting rugby in the Olympic games has nothing to do with that. I think rugby is well served by the RWC, 6N and 3N, world 7s circus and Commonwealth games 7s.
How do you meaningfully fit it into the Olympics? "Smaller" rugby nations would not likely qualify (you would have to have qualification or else the numbers would be unmanageable) so it would be another de-facto RWC in the year after a RWC. If it is 7s, the IRB already has that going non-stop. 15-a-side would be a real challenge in terms of getting enough venues to get the games all done.
The IRB would melt down, the European clubs would melt down (having enough problems releasing players as it is to fit into the various "windows" for internationals). The various unions would not give up or jeopardise their broadcast deals and $$$$ that go along with them.
The players are already getting overdone.
I'm sure there are other equally good reasons I haven't mentioned.

Cyclopath,
How is it that a real Rugby supporter does not know that the proposed Olympic format is 7's Rugby. Both men and women...we get the hand that rock's the cradle. The issues you raised are non events.
The great advantage is that nations such as China , Russia and the US will devote olympic funding to Rugby. There will be a new world order at the 7's level which will spread to the 15 man game. The established nations will need to rise to the new age threat and will find the resources from new adherants traditionally involved in other sports..the desire for Olympic gold is a very strong motivator.
The pro era means ..GROW OR DIE and I loved the pre pro era but it will never return..

Thanks Patto. I did realise that, but thank you for condescending to tell me. A proposal is just that - proposed, therefore the final format, if it ever was to happen, is undecided.
Care to elaborate how the other issues are non events, or is it just 'cos you say so?
The desire for Olympic gold is not a strong motivator, if there are pre-existing competitions that mean more to the players.

 

[Patto]

Cyclopath,
Clearly

Also no.
If it is 7s, the IRB already has that going non-stop. 15-a-side would be a real challenge in terms of getting enough venues to get the games all done.
.

Cyclopath,
I do not condescend, THAT IS NOT MY STYLE. I argue the point and the good of Rugby as I see it.
If you knew that the olympic proposal for Rugby inclusion was the 7's format then why the preamble culminating in "If it is 7s" after raising all the 15 man red herrings. Mate, it is honest debate or it is BULLSHIT.

 

[cyclopath]

Well, big shouty capital letters don't make your point more valid or mine less so, but nice try.
As I tried to explain to you, I was covering any possibility, since nothing has been decided. Just because I take a different point to you, does not make it less of an honest debate, or indeed bullshit.
Rugby is governed by the IRB.
That includes 15s, 7s etc (men and women)...let me know if this is all OK?
If they are going down the path of the Olympics, then this will indeed affect the current IRB calender in all its parts, not to mention the players for the competition. Hardly red herrings.
And the point still remains that rugby has enough championships and other tournaments.
And finally, the Olympic rugby heritage is scant at best. Australia beat Cornwall Browns Cows once for it - hardly an illustrious history.
But good luck with the petition - happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Patto]

Cyclops,
We are faceless and nameless, Why are you making this personal. I have addressed the points you made, you have pretended that was not the case. Mate , stick to the points, address them or butt out...all without the capitals that intimidate you.
Just promote Rugby...the status quo is a moving index.

 

[cyclopath]

I haven't made it personal, can't really see what the fuck you are talking about.
I made my arguments, you made yours, I responded to those points. Don't post threads asking for opinions if all you want to do is abuse the respondents and call their opinions bullshit.
You ought to learn some manners, but I suspect you may not be around here long enough to find any. Try planet rugby or the colosseum - they may be more your style.
And good luck with that intimidation thing... yeah right:lmao:

 

[barbarian]

OK. Deep breaths everyone.

I would be all for it, but there certainly are some grey areas (which Cyclo rightly raised).

My main issues is the players used- currently, the 7s circuit is filled with journeyman 7s specialist players, who are either about to break into the 15 man game or about to retire from it. Nothing wrong with that, the spectacle it can create is great. However, as soon as the Olympics roll on you would be a fool to believe these same 'specialists' (who actually know how to best play sevens) will be retained, with the ARU wanting to play Giteau, Barnes, Smith, Mitchell etc.

So what it may end up being is a mish-mash of non-sevens players attempting to play the shortened game, with specialist teams from minnow nations competing as well. I don't think that is the optimal format, and the IRB will have to step in here (something like a mandatory minimum of season participation to be able to compete at the games).

Nonetheless though, Rugby at the Olympics would be great no matter what the format. Good to get a bit of global exposure.

Oh, one more issue I've just thought of- England, Scotland and Wales would have to combine. Shit that would be hard to beat.

 

[louie]

no

Why would a rugby supporter respond in the negative. Would love to have an intelligent response. Maybe you can show me the error of my thinking.

sorry patto sometimes i like to just do dickhead answer to pump people up. your new and it worked.
i think idea would become like soccer/football now. where the the world cup is a bit of a joke and no real point to it.
Olympics are about tradition and honor. we have our own events in place already without having to through it in with the Olympics

 

[Lindommer]

Oh, one more issue I've just thought of- England, Scotland and Wales would have to combine. Shit that would be hard to beat.

Mmm? They can't beat the SH countries when they combine in 15s as the Lions, what makes you think it's going to be any different in 7s? As for the matter of combining, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are NOT combining in soccer for the 2012 London Olympics, the four FAs have agreed for one of them to represent Great Britain, more than likely England. Although there's a greater tradition of combining in rugby it's not a given.

If/when rugby is included as an Olympic sport (the iRB has already determined it will be 7s) the funding for the sport in non-rugby nations such as Russia, China and Septica will increase exponentially. And small countries such as Portugal, Tunisia, Kenya and the four Pacific Island countries will have an opportunity for their place in the sun against the big boys of Olympic sport.

 

[Blue]

no

Why would a rugby supporter respond in the negative. Would love to have an intelligent response. Maybe you can show me the error of my thinking.

sorry patto sometimes i like to just do dickhead answer to pump people up. your new and it worked.
i think idea would become like soccer/football now. where the the world cup is a bit of a joke and no real point to it.
Olympics are about tradition and honor. we have our own events in place already without having to through it in with the Olympics

You call yourself a dickhead and the Soccer world cup pointless in one post.

I find that interesting.

 

[Scarfman]

I'm a bit confused by all this. I agree with Noddy. The proposal is for 7s rugby and I think that would be good. Lots of countries will add $ into developing the game. Plus, it's a version of the game that noobies seem to like.

I agree that it should NOT be a 15-a-side cometition, because that would make the RWC (the previous year) less important. But I really don't think that they are even remotely considering it.

 

[RugbyReg]

I'm a bit confused by all this. I agree with Noddy. The proposal is for 7s rugby and I think that would be good. Lots of countries will add $ into developing the game. Plus, it's a version of the game that noobies seem to like.

I agree that it should NOT be a 15-a-side cometition, because that would make the RWC (the previous year) less important. But I really don't think that they are even remotely considering it.

bang on - they aint. 1) because you can't fit a legitimate comp into two weeks. and 2) venues. you only need one ground for a 7s comp, you'd need at least 4 for a 15s. The IOC no longer wants to put that imposition on the host country and 3) similarly, competitor numbers. squads of 10 (x 2 for the females) is a lot less expensive for all involved than squads of 28-30 (x2).

The Olympics would become the premier 7s comp in world rugby in a 4 year cycle.

You would, I imagine, get the likes of Giteau, Carter, Habana wanting to play because Olympic Gold Medals are special. That would be fantastic to watch I reckon.

 

[louie]

blue, i'm an interesting man

 

[Moses]

Sounds good to me, and agree that 7's is the only way to go. There's no chance the 15 man game would get a proper round robin comp in the 10 or so days they'll have.

It would be great to see out marquee players exposed on the world stage, it's just a shame they didn't get it into London for 2012

 

[Scotty]

I'm all for it. More exposure globally for rugby is only a good thing.

I wonder if the old boys from the old countries are supporting, since they don't really like change and all. (cue Thommo - he smells these posts from half a world away)