2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
The 2009 Rugby Sevens World Cup will be the fifth edition of the Rugby sevens world cup. The International Rugby Board (IRB) selected Dubai as the host venue for the tournament ahead of bids from four other countries.[1] The format will include nine direct qualifiers and a further fifteen qualifiers from all six regions defined by the IRB. A women's version of the world cup will also be held alongside the men's tournament for the first time and will feature sixteen teams.[2]
Hosts Candidates
Arabian Gulf
The Arabian Gulf currently stages the Dubai Sevens, one of the events that currently comprises the IRB Sevens World Series. The region has excellent international air connections and massive financial resources. Dubai is one of the most up and coming international sporting destinations, hosting legs in the PGA, and is currently undertaking one of the largest sport venue projects in the world known as the Dubai Sports City.
Australia
Australia attracted a record crowd (for Rugby sevens) of 50,000 to the rugby event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The country also successfully hosted the 2003 World Cup in the 15-man version of the game, as well as the 2000 Summer Olympics. In 2007, Australia began hosting the Adelaide Sevens, a new event in the Sevens World Series.
Kenya
Kenya are regular IRB Sevens series competitors and hosted the successful Safari Sevens in Nairobi.
Netherlands
The Netherlands compete on the FIRA-AER European Sevens Series circuit.
New Zealand
Wellington currently hosts a leg of the sevens series. This has has been held very successfully for the past few years at a great stadium Westpac Stadium. New Zealand is also a Super Power of the sevens and fifteens game and in New Zealand rugby is part of their culture. They also are hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup for the 15-a-side game.
Russia
Russia are regular IRB Sevens series competitors, and in July 2006, will host the final of the FIRA-AER European Sevens Series.
South Africa
South Africa also boasts a large rugby fan base, solid infrastructure with ongoing improvements in preparation to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and considerable experience in hosting international rugby events, having hosted the hugely successful 1995 Rugby World Cup and currently stage a leg of the Sevens World Series.
United States
The United States also stages a leg of the Sevens World Series commonly held in San Diego. The proposed host city of Denver would have held the event at Invesco Field at Mile High, currently the home of the National Football Leagues Denver Broncos. Led by the Metro Denver Sports Commission, the Denver bid fell short, but was in the final considerations along with Moscow, Russia, and Dubai, UAE. Although rugby is currently a second tier sport in the States, the US has considerable experience with staging massive sporting events. They hosted the Summer Olympics in 1904, 1932, 1984, 1996, the Winter Olympics in 1932, 1960, 1980, 2002 the 1994 FIFA World Cup and host World Series and Super Bowls championships annually.
Teams
Men's
24 Teams will take part in this tournament
Women's
16 Teams will take part in this tournament
