Olympic rugby has sport's full backing, says IRB

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Posted: Sunday 8th March 2009 | 13:30

THE man charged with making rugby an Olympic sport is relying on sound arguments to convince the IOC that Sevens should make its debut in 2016.

DIFFICULT JOB: IRB chief executive Mike Miller is leading rugby's bid to be included at the 2016 Olympic Games (Getty Images)

Rugby sevens is competing with baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, softball and squash for two vacant sports slots when the International Olympic Committee holds his Congress in Copenhagen this October.

And in an exclusive interview with national press agency Sportsbeat, published in Sunday's The Rugby Paper, International Rugby Board chief executive Mike Miller laid out his case.

He claimed that while other sports have enlisted top names to their campaigns - golf's bid is drawing on the star power of Jack Nicklaus - the IRB believed in the power of its credentials as a family and media friendly sport, targeted at the younger TV audience the IOC craves.

"It's good to have star power on your side but it's better to have star arguments in your favour and star reasons for why you'd be a good part of the programme," said Miller.

He also claimed all the sport's powerbrokers - national associations, clubs, players and sponsors - were in behind the campaign.

But he admitted there were question marks over how the British home unions might come together - especially over the issue of Irish players and which team they would represent.

"There is no point, at this stage, dealing with issues that require negotiation. If we get in we won't be in the Games until 2016 so we have a long-time to sort out the details," he added.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW

JAMES TONEY

* Packed with all the weekend's rugby from top down to regional level, The Rugby Paper is available every Sunday at your local newsagent. Click here for stockists.