The International Rugby Board (IRB) announced in Cape Town on Thursday that it has approved an unprecedented £30-million (R343,5-million), three-year programme of strategic development investments designed to improve the competitiveness of rugby worldwide.
The investments are a key component of the IRB’s strategic plan that was announced late last year. Its major aim is to ”increase the number and competitiveness of unions at tier one”. To achieve this, the IRB will help maintain and strengthen the traditional base of rugby and will invest heavily in developing tier-two nations.
IRB chairperson Dr Syd Millar said: ”This is an historic day for rugby, as it represents an unprecedented level of investment in rugby worldwide. To make lasting change, you need commitment, people, infrastructure and competitions.
”That is exactly what we are putting in place and it will make a real difference for the tier-two unions in terms of increasing their competitiveness. Ultimately, the aim is to ensure that more unions can challenge for and potentially win the Rugby World Cup.”
The seven tier-two unions — Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Canada, Japan, Romania and the United States — will receive £15,5-million-worth (R177,4-million) of investments so that they can effectively compete with tier-one unions.
The Pacific Islands will receive more than £3-million m(R34-million) in funding for
high-performance initiatives. The US and Canada will receive £3-million between them with a further £2-million being invested in Japan and Romania.
All of the unions will also be incorporated into new cross-border and international tournaments, which will receive funding from the IRB.
The IRB will invest in the 10 tier-one unions over the next three years to improve competitiveness at the top level. In line with the other tier-one unions, Argentina will receive £750 000 (R8,5-million) in funding for its high-performance requirements.
But since Argentina needs further assistance if it is to remain a tier-one nation, it will receive an extra £1,5-million (R17-million) for additional infrastructure requirements, including the establishment of new domestic structures and a cross-border tournament.
A further £1,5-million has been set aside for tier-three development initiatives. The IRB is at present reviewing these unions to identify which of them have the potential to become tier-two unions.
This massive injection of funds for the above projects is over and above the £12-million (R137-million) the IRB invests annually in its 120 unions.
”The continued growth of the Rugby World Cup is vitally important for the sport, which only went professional 10 years ago,” added Millar.
”While rugby has come a long way in that short period, this investment represents a huge statement in terms of our confidence in the future prosperity of rugby. The maintenance of our traditional base is a priority, but we also have to move rugby into new markets and continue to grow the developing markets.
”This is a massive investment programme that should have a significant impact on world rugby,” continued Millar. ”Our hope is to extend this investment into the next four-year cycle once the financial situation from Rugby World Cup 2007 in France is clear.” — Sapa