Rugby to Debut as Olympic Sport in 2016

The sport’s campaign for Olympic status received a great deal of backing from top-ranked New Zealand, with former squad member Jonah Lomu traveling to Copenhagen to attend the committee´s meeting.

In an email to Matador Sports, New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew voiced support for rugby’s inclusion and said that New Zealand is “committed to making the best athletes in our sport available for the Olympic Games.”

“Winning Olympic gold in any sport is important to Kiwis,” wrote Tew. “Our expectation is that we will see a lot more of our athletes wanting to try and make it into the sevens Olympic programme.”

In the United States, where matches are rarely broadcast, the agreement seems likely to introduce rugby to a much wider audence. Speaking by phone, USA Rugby CEO and former England captain Nigel Melville called the decision a “huge step forward.”

“It’s an exciting time for the sport,” said Melville.

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