Remember that splashy bid announcement, way back in June?
Well, the bid may be on the verge of becoming an actual stop.
The IRB’s Executive Committee is meeting this week in Singapore and it’s expected the new stop(s) for the HSBC Sevens World Series will be announced at some point. Most signs point to Friday the 10th (Thursday here in Vancouver) but there may be some hiccups before that happens.
But no matter when the announcement happens, one thing is expected to be included – a stop on the series for Vancouver, beginning in 2016. A whole pile of conversations I’ve had strongly suggest that this is all but a done deal, that Vancouver will be paired with the Vegas stop, expected to be played either in late February or early March.
The 2014-15 season launches in Gold Coast this weekend.
But also caution: there are several moving parts still out there. There’s a strong chance that Tokyo will lose its tournament – the likely announcement of the new Super Rugby franchise landing in Japan is one factor – to be replaced by Singapore. But the reports that some of the Tokyo team’s games will be played in Singapore might alter that plan as well.
Furthermore, there are questions still hanging over the Glasgow event, which has suffered from very poor attendance. Most prognosticators figure Paris would assume Scotland’s spot, but there are suggestions that there’s disharmony with that plan as well.
What we do know is this: the IRB (soon to be re-branded as ‘World Rugby’) has already announced plans to add one stop to the circuit, bringing the 2015-16 schedule up to ten tournaments. They want to pair the tournaments by region, with the New Zealand stop – currently paired with the Las Vegas stop – matching up with the Australian stop. In recent seasons, Australia has launched the season, but as a stand-alone event, separated from the subsequent Dubai/South Africa leg by two months.
Putting those two legs together means the Vegas stop would need a partner, thus everyone looking at the impressive Vancouver bid.
Last week, the HSBC Rugby Festival made a west coast stop. Canadian internationals Nathan Hirayama and Phil Mack joined Waisale Serevi to put on a series of clinics for both kids and coaches – and they also carted around the trophy itself. It was hard not to note the enthusiasm of both the players and the organizers about the potential for the tournament, which would be held at BC Place. (As has been previously discussed, the much-maligned turf would have to be upgraded from its current composition.)
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MORE FROM SEVENS WORLD SERIES PREVIEW WEEK:
THE TRY AND TACKLE PODCAST TALKS TO SCOTT HASTINGS AND CURTIS REED
LIAM MIDDLETON (Rugby Canada) Q&A
