Stephen Jones worries for the future of the Rugby World Cup after new financial demands were made by the IRB inThe Sunday Times
"There are growing fears that the Rugby World Cup, the showpiece of the sport and its financial engine, could fall into the wrong hands because the International Rugby Board is demanding in the middle of an economic crisis that any nation wishing to host the tournament must give a massive financial guarantee before being considered.
"Final bids are now being prepared to host the 2015 and 2019 tournaments, with at least eight nations showing interest, but an IRB directive that they must be guaranteed £80m for the 2015 event (they have moderated their demand from an original £100m) and a staggering £120m for 2019 has stopped many nations dead in their tracks, with even Australia expressing doubts. At present, only Italy appear to be in a position to come up with the guarantee - they have been promised support by the Italian government and Rome’s civic authorities.
"Other unions feel that the guarantee could destabilise them. Martyn Thomas, chairman of the powerful Rugby Football Union, is worried that a dearth of unions willing to put up the guarantees will leave a vacuum that could see bids from outside rugby."
RSS feed
