As the excitement fades and the embers fizzle out following the triumphant success of the London 2012 Olympics, sports fans are looking ahead. Yes the football season has kicked off, yes the rugby season is right around the corner, the commonwealth games are just two years away and yes the football World Cup is just two years away as well. However the biggest forthcoming event on my calendar is the Rugby World Cup of 2015 based right here in the UK.
The organisers of the Olympics are enjoying much praise and adulation following a rather enjoyable and proud display from our nation, not only in terms of Medals but the opening and closing ceremonies were a resounding success. From my own personal point of view i think the BBC got it right, the commentary and coverage was exactly what was required. The moment where John Inverdale was reduced to tears will lie with me forever as will the sense of pride I felt for all of our Athletes at that precise moment.
Although it is still three years away the Rugby Football Union World Cup organisers need to start the ball rolling, obviously something different to the whole James Bond, Royal Family themed ceremony but something equally daring and spectacular. With the extremely cash-rich nation of Japan hosting the competition in 2019 I feel it is up to the RFU to really set the bar high. Across the globe England is considered a boring nation, American’s consider us prudes, while others see us lacking a sense of humour or extravagance. I put it to the RFU to break these shackles much like the England Rugby team have under the tutelage of Stuart Lancaster.
The Home of English Rugby
In three years time there is no reason that England won’t be riding on the crest of a wave after successes in the Football World Cup and the Commonwealth games, the players and athletes are good enough. Then it could be upto the Rugby team to perform as well as the organisers and create the biggest spectacle the eyes of the Rugby world have ever seen. The stadiums this country has to offer are simply breathtaking in terms of capacity and atmosphere. Where other countries focus on visual impact, I don’t believe there is a stadium that rivals the electricity, excitement and intensity of Twickenham when it comes to the world of Rugby (although I am happy to sample others if invited).
England previously hosted the World Cup in 1991 before the English game had gone professional so it is fair to say it was a rather understated affair in comparison to the world cups that followed on from the impressive 2003 tournament in Australia.
This is the event for the neutrals or the die-hard’s, tickets should be readily available for average Joe’s and average Joan’s of this country. In three years we have an opportunity to emulate the most patriotic of successes this nation has ever seen, whether or not this happens is down to the RFU, a group of men once described as ‘old farts’ by an ex-England Captain. So is this a pie in the sky dream or is this sense of excitement and anticipation a realistic expectation? I guess only time will tell.