‘Great host’: World Rugby verdict with RWC in France 100 days away
World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin has saluted the enthusiasm prevailing in France with just 100 days now left to go before the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The tournament kicks off on September 8 when Fabien Galthie’s side welcome the All Blacks to Stade de France and the game’s global governing body has been impressed by the vibe surrounding a tournament that has 2.5million ticket sales with less than three months left before it begins.
“Ticket sales have always been fantastic for this tournament,” enthused Gilpin. “Any time tickets have gone on sale, there has been huge demand and there is enormous overseas demand for the tournament. We have got incredibly engaged host cities. We know rugby has incredible strongholds, particularly in the south of France, but the excitement is certainly building all around the country.”
The form of the French under Galthie in recent years has been a blessing. “It’s hugely important to the build-up to any tournament that the national team is competitive and they certainly are that,” continued the World Rugby CEO.
“We have got a French public that are immensely proud of a really, really spectacular current French national team, and we know we are going to have an incredibly competitive tournament. We open the tournament with an absolute blockbuster in terms of France-New Zealand and there is huge excitement around that team in general and what it might achieve.
“It’s certainly timely for the sport that we are going to have this incredible opportunity, to have all the best things around rugby. Look, we know it has been challenging times for a number of professional leagues and for a number of clubs as it has for a huge number of sports coming through covid and what it has meant in terms of the underlying businesses.
“Yeah, the Rugby World Cup comes as a great time. We have been incredibly fortunate to have had a spectacular World Cup in France and we have always had this great opportunity to look forward to a great World Cup in France. In that respect, it is really timely just to remind everybody what a great sport we are in.
“From a rugby perspective, France is a great host. They were genuinely a fantastic host in 2007 of this tournament, so a great rugby nation that is passionate about rugby with some fantastic facilities and a very competitive and watchable national team.
“It is such a great host destination, one of the most popular tourist destinations and we saw in 2007 and we are definitely seeing now more so than before as the visitor numbers will be records for Rugby World Cups.
“People want to go to France and enjoy the lifestyle aspects of a Rugby World Cup, the culture, the food, the fantastic host cities and countryside. There is so much to do in France outside of what will be a great Rugby World Cup. It provides that perfect hosting landscape.”
And a safe one promised the World Rugby chief. “Like every event, we are planning all the time for such a wide range of different scenarios and protests of any nature. On the one hand, of course it is a challenge and a concern, but it is something we are planning for and like all the scenarios working incredibly closely with particularly the French authorities and the various host cities.
“We have got the benefit in this tournament of having an incredibly experienced set of world-class venues who are used to hosting major event content, that are all used to hosting great content on a very regular basis so while I am sure as there is in every major event and in every World Cup incidents we need to deal with, I think we will be well prepared for that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments