In 1928 the IOC turned down the request to stage rugby at the Amsterdam games. Three factors were believed to be behind this: the IOC wanted more emphasis on individual sports; women's athletics had swollen the number of competitors; and the sport did not receive the backing that it should have from the British entries. Officials also cited the French crowds' behavior and the lack of widespread international participation.
Both the Soviet Union in 1980 and South Korea in 1988 made attempts to have rugby readmitted, and it should be pointed out that South Korea came desperately close to achieving their aim.
In a resent survey held by the Washington Post Rugby was the most popular sport requested to be added to the Olympics so it's only a matter of time before it will be back. Probably in 7s or 10s format due to the condensed schedule required.
Here I've collected various articles/information pertaining to attempts to re-instate Rugby as an Olympics event:
Rugby aiming for Olympic glory once more
As representatives of the International Olympic Committee visit London to consider which city should host the 2012 Olympic Games, the rugby world is in the middle of a lobbying process which hopes to make rugby sevens an Olympic sport for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Although rugby has not appeared in the Olympics for the last 80 years, the 15-a-side version has appeared in four of the games (1900, Paris; 1908, London; 1920, Antwerp and 1924, Paris). The last time it appeared there were three countries involved (Romania, USA and France) and the USA beat France 17-3 in the final. As the match finished, the partisan French crowd were so riled by the result that there was a pitch invasion and several American supporters were beaten unconscious.
Whether this was the reason for rugby's expulsion from the Games or whether it was the departure of the rugby loving Baron Pierre de Coubertin as IOC President, is not clear, but after an eighty year absence the International Rugby Board is currently in the middle of a new lobbying process which, it hopes, will enable the sevens version of the sport to be included.
Mark Egan, Sevens Tournament Manager of the International Rugby Board, explains, “The IOC are meeting in Singapore in early July. Their main decision is regarding the host city but they are also debating whether to alter the programme of sports within the 2012 Olympics. Rugby is one of five sports being considered for inclusion along with golf, squash, karate and roller sports. We have previously been through this process and rugby was recommended to be included but the programme didn't change. To enable a new sport to become involved, there is the possibility that it would need to replace one of the existing sports as there are concerns by the IOC about the increasing size of the games, so it's not a straight forward process. There is no assurance that the programme will change but we are doing everything we can to persuade them that rugby sevens would make a great Olympic sport.”
The IRB is currently going through a thorough consultation and lobbying process and an application was submitted to the IOC in November. We are working closely with the IOC, providing them with information about sevens and rugby in general.”
Egan believes that it is the sevens version of the sport which would make an ideal Olympic event, “If rugby is included it will be the sevens format. Rugby union is a global sport with 116 member unions. Sevens is in fact more global than the 15-a-side game in terms of competitiveness. Countries from Asia and Africa can compete on a fairly even playing field alongside the more established unions such as England and New Zealand in sevens. It is also a natural fit for the tournament as it is a two day event held in one stadium and can use existing facilities. There is a concern about the continuing growth of the Olympics and so another advantage is that the number of athletes is not that high compared to other sports.
The ethos of rugby – fair play, comradeship etc. - also matches the ethos of the Olympics movement. The IRB is an advanced, sophisticated governing body compared to many other sports and the sport is commercially strong. The Rugby World Cup (15s) is the third largest sporting event in the world, and the sport has huge appeal for broadcasters. We have over three million people participating around the world – men, women, children and the sport is very inclusive.”
Should rugby be successful and become an Olympic sport once more, there would be significant benefits for the sport around the world, “It would be a tremendous boost for the sport globally as nations such as America, China and Russia put significant resources into their Olympic sports. So for example in America, rugby would have access to the Olympic training facilities and to the various government funds which are only available to Olympic athletes.” says Egan.
Dan Lyle, who was captain of the US Eagles Rugby Union team and played in the Zurich Premiership, speaking at the launch of the IRB Sevens in Los Angeles last week, echoed the IRB's view, “We live on a four year Olympic cycle of international sport in America and the Olympics will give rugby legitimacy and our domestic market would really take off. American's will always watch and support other Americans whatever the discipline and rugby sevens is a great event and people will show up and watch. As an ex-player I am also convinced that the very best players would take part in the Olympics – it would be a fantastic experience and mean that the audience would be watching the world's finest athletes in action.”
Should London be successful in its bid to be the host city in 2012, rugby would not necessarily be staged at Twickenham should it become an Olympic sport again. Egan explains, “One of the advantages of rugby is that it can be played in existing facilities and doesn't require additional infrastructure. It could be played in the main Olympic stadium wherever that may be. If you are to believe that Paris and London are the main contenders for host city then they are both strong rugby nations which could work in our favour.”
The popularity and interest in rugby sevens continues to grow around the world and over 80 countries were involved in the qualification for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong. Spectator numbers are also on the increase and the commercial strength of the game (the Rugby World Cup attracted 1.5 billion television viewers in 2003) will hopefully add weight to the rugby argument.
The decision won't be made until July but Egan is keen for as many people as possible to show their support for the bid, “Sevens is a fantastically entertaining sport and is enjoyed by people of all ages all around the world. We hope that as many people as possible come along and enjoy the international sevens when it is in each of the different locations so we can show the IOC that rugby would be an excellent addition to the Olympics.”
Rugby Sevens under consideration as Olympic sport
Rugby Sevens could be included in the Olympics at the 2012 games. The International Rugby Board has been officially notified that rugby is one of the five sports being considered for inclusion. The IRB decided that Sevens rugby was the most suitable designated discipline for consideration by the International Olympic Committee. The other sports being considered are squash, golf, karate and roller sports.
On the day that London submits its formal bid for host city of the 2012 games, it could be that Twickenham hosts the Sevens should both the sport and the city be successful in their bids.
Speaking ahead of the team's first tournament in Dubai in a few weeks, England Sevens Coach Mike Friday was excited by the news, "It's great news that rugby has been shortlisted as a possible Olympic sport. Rugby Sevens is an exciting and entertaining sport and the format would work well in the Olympics - just as it has at the Commonwealth Games. The growing popularity of rugby around the world will hopefully help the IOC decide that Sevens is a worthy Olympic sport. And if London is successful with its bid for the 2012 Olympics, it would be fantastic for Twickenham to be involved and host the Rugby Sevens."
The next stage for the IRB is to complete a IOC survey which details rugby's popularity, image, universality and costs associated with rugby's inclusion in the Games. The IOC will announce its decision in July 2005 when it selects the host city for 2012.
Artical from Sporting Life - By Alex Lowe, PA Sport March 8th, 2008
Australia have been approached by the British Olympic Association to play the Barbarians at Wembley Stadium on December 6. The proposed match would form part of the BOA's programme of events to celebrate the centenary of the first London Olympic Games. And Australia, who won the rugby gold medal at the 1908 Olympics, are open to the idea of extending their autumn tour to include one more match.
The Wallabies are already scheduled to play New Zealand in Hong Kong and then Italy, France and England, while a fifth Test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium has also been mooted.
Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill said: "It's shaping up as quite an exciting tour."
The BOA insist negotiations are "ongoing" over potential opponents for Australia - some reports down under had suggested the Wallabies would play England - but it is believed a Barbarians fixture is being lined up. Twickenham is still in the running to host the match but the BOA would prefer it to be at Wembley, which was the Olympic Stadium in 1948.
Even if the fixture is confirmed there remain significant hurdles to overcome - not least the fact that December 6-7 is designated as a Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup weekend. Premier Rugby will not release any England-based players for a Barbarians fixture that weekend - and it is difficult to see leading clubs in other countries doing so when they are in European action. However, the Barbarians would have all the other touring countries to select from, with New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the Pacific Islands all playing Tests in Europe during November. The match would also need to be sanctioned by the International Rugby Board, but the world governing body would welcome the chance to strengthen links between rugby and the Olympics.
Rugby was last an Olympic sport in 1924 - the United States are the reigning champions.