PLUS Total Rugby IRB Awards IRB Hall of Fame 2007 World Results Financial Reports YEAR IN REVIEW 2007 Tournaments Looking Ahead All the results, analysis and records… Education Strategic Investments Looking back on a Tournament of Game Development IRB ELVs unprecedented Match Officials Keep Rugby Clean success participation commitment determination entertainment camaraderie Contents 2 Foreword by 12 Rugby World Cup 26 Tournaments 47 Communications Dr. Syd Millar 2007 28 U19s Signing off in 48 IRB Publications 4 IRB Council 14 Unprecedented Style 49 IRB World Rankings and Committees Success 30 The Future is Bright 50 Total Rugby 6 Key Council/EXCO 15 Global Audience 32 IRB Sevens World 52 IRB Online Decisions 2007 16 Record Anti-Doping Series 53 Hall of Fame 7 Meet the Team Programme 34 IRB Pacific Nations 54 IRB Awards 8 Strategic Investments 18 Fixtures, Attendances, Cup 10 Laying the Results 35 IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 56 Membership Update Foundations for the 20 Game Analysis 36 IRB North America 4 58 Looking Ahead with Game’s Future Growth 22 Commercial Update 37 Churchill Cup Bernard Lapasset 23 Tackle Hunger 38 IRB Nations Cup 60 Key Fixtures 2008 24 RWC Shorts 39 Creating the Blueprint 62 World Results 2007 25 RWC Statistics for Women’s Rugby 68 Financial Report & 40 Match Officials Accounts 42 Education and Training 44 IRB Experimental Law Variations 46 Player Welfare Rugby. A sport for all. Year in Review 2007 1 Dr Syd Millar IRB investment paying dividends The IRB set itself on a new course in 2005 with a new strategic plan and an unprecedented £30 million investment programme aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Game around the world. The results of this investment were clearly evident at the Rugby World Cup in France. 2 International Rugby Board www.irb.com Foreword The strategic investment increasing tension between are stronger and faster, contact expenditure was a direct result different levels of the which is more aggressive and physical, of the commercial success of each require players and the advancement of skill the Rugby World Cup and to fulfil their various levels is putting strain on the we were perhaps a little commitments in order to satisfy Laws themselves in terms of conservative in thinking that contractual, spectator and the contest for possession. we would not see any defined commercial demands. There is an underlying increase in competitiveness The international Rugby consensus that Rugby does until RWC 2011. How wrong calendar is built around the need an overhaul of the Laws we were. RWC 2007 in France four-year Rugby World Cup of the Game. The IRB has been revealed that our investment in cycle. Every Rugby Union wants trialling the ELVs, under the new Tournaments, player and to win RWC and their strategic auspices of a Laws Project coaching high performance plans measure their success by Group, over the last two years programmes, Union and how well they do at the around the world in facility infrastructures and key Tournament. Inevitably the competitions in South Africa, resources such as people with Tournament adds even more Scotland, Ireland, France, expertise on the ground is strain to the playing calendar England, Australia and New already reaping rewards. regardless of what time of year Zealand. Analysis and review RWC 2007 may have seen it is played in, especially when of the ELVs is ongoing and the record ticket sales, crowds you factor in the need for Rugby Committee, to which and TV audiences but the key appropriate player rest periods the Laws Project Group reports, feature of the Tournament was and warm-up matches prior to will make recommendations undoubtedly the improved a Rugby World Cup. to Council in November 2008. performance of the developing The IRB is taking the lead in It may well be that in the near nations. Despite our proactive this search for a better balanced future they are implemented efforts to promote this strategic programme of matches and our at all levels of the Game for investment initiative that is aim, in conjunction with the a trial period of 12 months. changing the fortunes of the Game’s stakeholders, is to find If successful and accepted they developing nations it has been the appropriate solutions for a would then be adopted into the somewhat disappointing how better defined playing calendar Laws of the Game permanently. little information about the that takes into account player An important issue to note is investment programme has welfare issues, relevance of the that the ELVs do not in any way been carried by the media. international match programme change the basic fabric of the For the record the IRB and the continued commercial Game in terms of its key investment between late 2005 appeal of the game. The start elements – scrums, lineouts, and the end of 2007 has seen: of this process was a successful the breakdown etc. And all almost £16 million invested meeting of all the Game’s through the project the IRB in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Canada, stakeholders in Woking, has adhered to one of the Japan, USA and Romania England in late 2007. major elements of the Game’s including the creation of four Linked to the development of new Tournaments to create new an Integrated Season is a review Charter – That Rugby is and player pathways – Pacific Rugby of Regulations 4 and 9 which must always be a Game for all Cup; Pacific Nations Cup; govern player status, contracts shapes and sizes. North America 4 and Nations and movement, and availability. I would also like to report Cup. £12 million has been The IRB has already started that the Rugby World Cup invested in Tier 1 Unions to work on this and has begun Board recommended to the maintain standards at the top consultation with the Member IRB Council that Rugby World level including £2.25 million for Unions. This move recognises Cup 2011 in New Zealand Argentina, and £1.5 million that the existing Regulations should comprise 20 teams. for selected Tier 3 Unions were written to suit a Game This follows a review of including those who qualified that no longer exists and new RWC 2007 and Council for RWC 2007. Regulations are needed to fit ratified this recommendation The exciting thing is that the the modern professional Game. following a Special Meeting in commercial success of RWC Another interesting part of November 2007. 2007 means we now have this whole equation is the way Finally, I would like to wish further significant funds to the Game is played. Presently Bernard Lapasset the new invest in the Game and the the IRB is trialling a raft of Chairman of the IRB all the Executive Committee will experimental law variations very best for the next four years. decide the way forward in (ELVs) around the world. He has been a huge contributor April 2008. I think most people associated already to the Game’s Other challenges we are now with the Game, including administration as President addressing include the global spectators, would agree that of the French Rugby Federation playing calendar of the the Game is in a very healthy and as an IRB Council Member. professional Game as it is state but that there are some Of course he was also at the becoming severely congested. fundamental problems creeping helm in France to deliver a Understandably we are seeing in. The Game is quicker, players wonderful RWC 2007. Year in Review 2007 3 IRB Council AND Co IRB COUNCIL 2006 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HIGH PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE Chairman South Africa Oregan Hoskins Dr. Syd Millar (IRB Chairman) Chairman Dr. Syd Millar Mike Stofile (AM) Bill Beaumont (IRB Vice Chairman) Bernard Lapasset France Bernard Lapasset Mike Miller (IRB Chief Executive Officer) Vice Chairman Members Jacques Laurans Oregan Hoskins Bill Beaumont Jonathan Dance Argentina Carlos Tozzi David Pickering England Martyn Thomas Giancarlo Dondi Italy Giancarlo Dondi Graham Mourie Jonathan Dance John Eales Canada Chris Le Fevre Paul McLean Scotland Bill Nolan Jean-Pierre Lux Japan Ichiro Kono (AM) Carlos Tozzi Gordon McKie Chris Moller FIRA-AER Raul Martins Bernard Lapasset Wales David Pickering Noel Murphy ARFU Noboru Mashimo (IM) Gerald Davies Harry Schuster Jamie Scott (AM) AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE Ireland Noel Murphy CAR Abdelaziz Bougja Peter Boyle REGULATIONS COMMITTEE FORU Harry Schuster Chairman Australia John O’Neill (IM) NAWIRA Pearse Higgins Jacques Laurans Ron Graham (AM) CONSUR Hugo Porta Chairman Gary Flowers (AM) Members Jock Hobbs Paul McLean (IM) Abdelaziz Bougja (AM) Annual Meeting Members New Zealand Jock Hobbs – May 3, 2007, Dublin Peter Boyle Peter Boyle Chris Moller Chris Moller (IM) Interim Meeting Giancarlo Dondi Graham Mourie (IM) – October 19, 2007, Paris Oregan Hoskins Stev Tew (SM) (SM) Special Meeting Jacques Laurans – November 30, 2007 Dublin Jamie Scott 4 International Rugby Board www.irb.com IRB Council IRB Council Dublin, May 3 2007 Back: G. McKie (Scotland), A. Bougja (CAR), G. Flowers (Australia), C. Moller (New Zealand), H. Porta (CONSUR), I. Kono (Japan), P. Higgins (NAWIRA), G. Davies (Wales) Centre M. Miller (Chief Executive Officer), B. Nolan (Scotland), H. Schuster (FORU), M. Stofile (South Africa), R. Martins (FIRA-AER), J. Scott (ARFU), P. Boyle (Ireland), R. Graham (Australia), J. Dance (England), O. Hoskins (South Africa), C. Le Fevre (Canada) Front: G. Dondi (Italy), J. Laurans (France), B. Beaumont (England), Dr. S. Millar CBE DSC (Chairman), J. Hobbs (New Zealand), C. Tozzi (Argentina), N. Murphy (Ireland) Absent: R. Tuckey (Vice-Chairman), B. Lapasset (France), D. Pickering (Wales) MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANTI-DOPING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chairman Dr Syd Millar Chairman Dr Syd Millar Members Dr Christian Bagat Members Dr Conor McCarthy Tim Greeson Dr Chan Peng Mun Bill Nolan Dr Enrique Basso Dr Barry O’Driscoll Dr Filippo Bottiglia Dr Ismail Jakoet Dr Ismail Jakoet Prof Ichiro Kono Prof Ichiro Kono Dr Roger Evans Dr Preston Wiley Gregor Nicholson Dr James Robson Graham Mew Dr Martin Raftery Dr Roger Evans Responsible for providing Dr Simon Kemp advice and assistance on doping Dr Steve Targett issues and elated matters, the Anti-Doping advisory Committee oversees the IRB’s The Medical Advisory Anti-Doping Programme.