It’s hard to work out why it has taken an eternity, but the bad news has finally emerged from World Rugby: the World Cup will be delayed to next year
Even then proper channels have to be followed, so WR is merely recommending to the Rugby World Cup board that it come to this decision. We should know the final verdict by 9 March.
This call should have been made weeks, even months ago. WR and the organizing committee in New Zealand stand accused of foot-dragging, closing their eyes to the true position. I have been doubting the dates for the best part of a year now. It’s much harder for everyone concerned – above all the players – that they have had to wait so long for the inevitable.
When Sir Bill Beaumont spoke at the draw in Auckland of ‘an unstoppable momentum’, I couldn’t begin to grasp what he was claiming. The world had ground to a halt, affecting all manner of human activities. Rugby was one of the sports most grievously affected, as human contact was most at issue. With only a few exceptions the nations hoping to take part couldn’t play the game, couldn’t train. For them it was a true lockdown.
The RWC 2021 timetable had been reshaped and reshaped. There was a gleam in the darkness when two qualifying matches took place recently in Spain, nudging the process forward by inches, but so many other games remained to be played. As for dates and venues, they remained unstated.
Proud New Zealanders were so looking forward to hosting the great event, but I fear the positive vibes they felt prevented them from seeing how vulnerable the enterprise was.
New Zealand itself has mainly steered clear of the pandemic, but an outbreak in Auckland reminded everyone that the virus knows no frontiers. Borders had been closed, but they would have been flung wide open again in September as well over 300 contestants plus all the back-up staff, media people and supporters flew into the country.
The delay has a few obvious consequences:
Every player will be one year older when the tournament starts. That affects the oldest team members above all. It’s highly probable that we will be deprived of seeing one or two famous figures as they decide they cannot keep going for another year.
There will no longer be a clash with the Olympic Sevens (unless of course Tokyo 2020 becomes Tokyo 2022!). That will allow all the competing nations to offer places to all their finest players, a huge boost.
The delay assumes that all will be well twelve months later. Let us hope that turns out to be true. A worldwide vaccination programme would help to end anxiety.
All the nations still hoping to qualify can now look forward to a proper build-up to their fixtures. The minnows will gain much needed time to prepare themselves.
Every player with aspirations to be part of the great event will have to readjust her personal timetable. Head coaches will be scratching their heads about plans for the intervening year.
It’s a strange thought that two successive RWCs have had their dates altered. After the 2014 version in Paris, Dublin should have welcomed the world in 2018, but clashes with other major sporting events brought the date one year forward. After that the 4-year pattern was to be restored, hence 2021.
Could the Rugby World Cup board possibly say no to World Rugby’s recommendation? Now that would be a story.
