Rugby World Cup: IOC President set to attend final

The IOC president and former Belgian rugby international is in New Zealand for the World Cup's closing stages.

At least three international No 7s will be at the World Cup final next Sunday night. Two will join the openside of the scrum, while the third is expected to occupy one of Eden Park's best seats.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge is a former member of the 'Black Devils', Belgium's national side, and was used to getting to the breakdown fast. But, as the three-time Olympic sailor once modestly told Britain's Guardian newspaper, his international caps were more a case of "they ring to see if you are available, then you are in the team".

The 69-year-old makes a habit of attending top sporting fixtures outside the Olympics so, on his third visit to New Zealand, he will observe the closing stages of the World Cup.

It is effectively part of his job description but the visit has particular significance given he played rugby at international level.

New Zealand IOC member Barry Maister says while links will be made between the World Cup and the introduction of sevens to the 2016 Olympics, Rogge's visit is wide-ranging.

"The New Zealand Olympic Committee celebrates its centenary on Tuesday, on Thursday he will be involved in a function at the Millennium Institute, and will also meet Sparc leaders at some point. No doubt some talk will be about the advancement of sevens into the Olympic programme and there's work to be done on how to qualify nations in a fair and transparent way."

IOC members are also expected to attend from Fiji, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Monaco - courtesy of a cameo from Prince Albert.

Rogge also attended the 2007 World Cup but left unimpressed, according to the BBC at the time.

He said rugby's bosses should act to improve the sport because: "It was a good World Cup in terms of the public attention but I'm not happy about the quality of play.

"I am passionate about rugby, but the game has to evolve to keep its appeal. Defence has taken precedence over attack."

He was also disappointed play went from maul to maul, waiting for a penalty to be blown: "The law-makers have to think about making the game more open, probably by working on a quicker liberation of the ball in rucks."

Perhaps predictions of a faster-paced game next Sunday will be more to his liking.

Meanwhile, New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens is expected to attend an International Rugby Board meeting tomorrow in Auckland.

It will consist of a roundtable discussion on the sport's abbreviated form heading to Rio de Janeiro and how that affects the 15s game. Tietjens is not sure he'll get a chance to offer Rogge any tips, but hopes the IOC lets the sport meet spectator expectations.

"It will be the pinnacle of the game. My most memorable tournaments have always been when there is a gold medal to attack. I won't be forgetting four Commonwealth Games gold medals in a hurry - you're not just representing rugby but every other New Zealand sportsperson on the team, the flag and the anthem. But I hope the party atmosphere of Wellington or Hong Kong is not lost."