Writing following a trip to Asia for an HSBC Hong Kong Sevens Long Lunch, The Telegraph's Brian Moore reveals some interesting facts from outside rugby's comfortable top tier.
"By 2016, 80 per cent of the planet's population aged 20 and under will live in the Asia, including the Indian subcontinent.
"...If you ran a global business and 80 per cent of your future market was similarly situated, where would your concentration be in terms of development? Thus far the geographical spread of IRB funding has committed relatively little to this region and this must change if the IRB believes – as opposed to saying it believes – in globalising the game.
"This would also repay the debt owed to the Asian nations whose votes were decisive in admitting rugby into the Olympics, a progression that gives opportunities for growing rugby for which other sports would kill.
"What also has to change is the access to the four major world tournaments: the Six Nations, Tri-Nations, Pacific Nations Cup and the Nations Cup. It is in gaining access by guaranteed promotion to such competitions that Asian countries can attract more sponsorship and develop rugby without IRB money."
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