Dubai to host Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009
04/05/2007 |
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The IRB Council has awarded Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 to the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union. The Tournament, which will be the first to incorporate a women?s competition, will be played in Dubai in February 2009.
IRB Chairman, Dr Syd Millar made the announcement at the IRB?s annual meeting of Council in Dublin following a vote that brought to a close the selection process that began in June 2006.
The voting process was managed by independent auditors, Price Waterhouse Coopers, and consisted of two rounds. No clear majority was reached in the first round and therefore the top two; Arabian Gulf and Australia progressed to a second round, with the IRB Council selecting Arabian Gulf as Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 Host Union.
?The Council members were extremely impressed with the Arabian Gulf Rugby Union bid and I am sure that Dubai will host a wonderful Tournament having staged a successful IRB Under 19 World Championship in 2006,? said Dr Millar. ?The people of Dubai will, of course, embrace the Rugby World Cup Sevens, but the same could be said for Australia, Russia, the Netherlands and USA, who all presented a strong case to host the Tournament.?
?Dubai has a proven track record of staging major international events and has both the infrastructure and ability to stage a Tournament of this scale. There is a strong Rugby Community within the city and the annual Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens has grown to become one of the most popular, colourful and well attended on the IRB World Sevens Series calendar, attracting capacity crowds. I am sure that Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai will be a spectacular Tournament,? added Dr Millar.
David Skidmore, Chairman of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union and leader of Dubai?s bid could barely conceal his delight.
?It is wonderful news to be selected as Host Union. The Arabian Gulf may be one of the smaller Unions, but everyone has worked extremely hard on the bid and we are confident that we will deliver a tremendously successful Rugby World Cup Sevens Tournament in Dubai in 2009. Dubai has a strong history of hosting successful and well attended Rugby Sevens Tournaments and I am sure that everyone in the city will be extremely excited with today?s news."
(Source: IRB)
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