Excitement High for Rugby at Rio 2016 -- On the Scene

(ATR)Excitement for the rugby sevens tournament in Rio was certainly high among former professionals of the game speaking in London.

Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick, who won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, believed the competition would be a hit in the Olympic movement because of the simplified format.

"I think it’s phenomenal. I think it’s a great opportunity," he said. "Not only for the players, but I think it’s a great opportunity for us in the rugby community to be on the world stage and that’s a serious world stage promoting the game.

"The sevens format is probably better to be on the world stage. People understand it more easily. I was in America a couple of weeks ago trying to explain to the man next to me at a 15s game what was going on, and it wasn’t that easy. But I think sevens is so appealing to everyone and a lot more nations can win gold medals than say in 15s."

His comments were echoed by former France captain Thomas Castaignede, who believed that the best players in the world would want to come to Rio and that winning a gold medal could be a "dream come true" for some of them.

However, Fitzpatrick warned that the sport needed to keep trying to embrace new markets and viewers while other sports flourish.

"Now the NFL is coming to England, that’s a real competition for Rugby Union in terms of the people watching it. So we’ve got to keep on the ball, and the Olympics stage is a phenomenal stage to do that."

Rugby Chairman Opens Conference

Hundreds of delegates from more than 50 countries flocked to London’s Hilton Metropole for the first day of the IRB conference and exhibition.

The day began with IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset opening proceedings where he firstly praised the Women’s Rugby World Cup which took place in France in August and was won by England.

"2014 has been a very special year for rugby and rugby is in great shape around the world. We enjoyed a magnificent Women’s Rugby World Cup in Paris. An event which showcased the quality and excitement of Women’s Rugby today and hopefully has inspired generations of players."

England’s success in that tournament was partly because of the legacy left by the London 2012 Olympics, according to England player Rachael Burford.

"I think a lot of this comes from how successful females were in 2012 and it’s just taken a little while to see the improvements develop. For a lot of people watching the Olympics, you aspire to be successful in a sport.

"So even though you’ve got people aspiring to be as successful as Jessica Ennis-Hill [Olympic Heptathlon champion], they may have wanted to do that in football, or cricket, or whatever their sport may be. I think you can feel that around the country. You can feel that women’s sport is growing."

Reported by Christian Radnedge

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