This year will mark the 20th anneversary of this event. Outside the Summer Olympics and World Cup Soccer it is the third biggest sporting event in the world.
2007 sees the French hosting the month long tournament. Surprisingly, they were the finalists along with New Zealands "All Blacks" at the 1987 World Cup final in Auckland - New Zealand, which was won convincingly by New Zealands "All Blacks".
Over these last twenty years New Zealand has failed to regain the cup. Interestingly only Australia has won it twice. Something the kiwis have vowed to rectify!
This years event will no doubt thrill, inspire and entertain us as we countdown to watch the two best teams in the world battle it out at the final.
Media reports lately suggest that the tournament should be scrapped as only a handful of nations always make it to the semi finals. These nations being South Africa - Australia - England - France and of course New Zealand. If this tournament were to be scrapped a lot of the smaller nations who have contributed faithfully to Rugby Union over the last century would definitely miss out on the exposure to not only there own players but the game as a whole.
What then would the IRB replace it with? Can the IRB afford to lose the substantial monetary value the tournament generates and the global exposure of the game itself?
To discontinue this tournament may well set back the progress of many who have worked long and hard to bring this lively and entertaining sport into the homes of those who have never viewed it before.
Every consideration must be given to actively promote the sport so that it may well enjoy a long and healthy future.
Hope they dont break it up is always good to watch. But think i would rather watch a real rugby league world cup though, if they could get more than just two teams that would probably win.
I can't possibly imagine it would be scrapped, either! Sure it is Commonwealth dominated, but the idea of smaller, countries turning their backs on the Cup is incomprehensible and almost unsporting!
