Why isn't rugby in the Olympics?

Question

Why isn't rugby in the olympics when friggin hand ball is???

I didn't even know there was such a sport as handball!!

Answer 1

Don't worry, rugby will probably be in London 2012 because we stand more than half a chance in it.

Answer 2

i dont think rugby should be in the the olympics  but i do think that rugby 7s should its a great form of the game.

Answer 3

mainly because the Olympics are mostly pansy sports...Rugby is violent, aggressive, and that goes against political correctness but more importantly doesn't allow for TV commercial interruption...and you know they want to make $$$.

Answer 4

Rugby was not included in the 2012 Olimpics. Another attempt will be made for the 2016 Olimpics.

Answer 5

7's with 7 minute halves would be a very nice addition to the olympics

I really do hope its added

Answer 6

I think I´ll agree with Jamie B, not the 15 man game but definitely the 7´s. Why it´s not part of the Olympics I do not know. I can only imagine that the guys in the organization of the games must be from somewhere where they do not know rugby, yeah man handball sucks.

Answer 7

hiya!

lolx.....

rugby has a league of its own! remeber the world cup last year!? it gets attention in stuff like that but sports like athletics, hand ball, etc....has no event set up for it so it all comes together in the olympics!

but watch out for the next world cup in 2011!!!!!! itll be in NEW ZEALAND!!!!! woo i live in nz!!!! lolx

thats the way i see it so i hope that helps!

=D

*interesting questioon tho!!!! a star for you!!!*

Answer 8

It used to be, but was dropped after the 1924 Paris Games. The Americans are the current Olympic Champions and sadly the side that won the Gold at the 1908 London Games were all Australian, so no Kiwi's have ever won an Olympic medal of any colour for Rugby.

Finger's crossed, it'll be back eventually. (Or Sevens at the very least.)

Answer 9

Yes. Cut 2 players from the union version. Cut out the rucks and mauls. The constant kicking. The forward passes and the lack of fitness and we may get rugby in the games.  In fact lets just play rugby league and then everyone wins.  7's would be ok, but lets not ignore the rugby league teams.  Don't forget Wigan and Bradford have won the middlesex 7's when they entered it.  Don't get fooled by the middle class gin swilling bigots in the union loving media. League shall not be forgotten about.

Answer 10

check out this IRB ad on you tube:

they are campaigning to get 7's into the Olympics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY5ybpfmO...

i guess they are trying first to get 7's into the Olympics, which would work best because of the timing and physicality of the sport of full 15's matches... i mean look how long it took for World Cup rugby to play out - like a month- Olympics is only a couple of weeks.

Answer 11

Rugby won't get into the Olympics but the IRB are pushing to get 7's included. Since rugby is a very physically demanding game, the games needed wouldn't be able to be played during the Olympics as there wouldn't be enough time, whereas sevens is a quicker game and suited more to Olympic style competitions.

antwigan what are you talking about?

I play Union and am certainly not a 'middle-class gin swilling bigot.' Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder about how popular Union has become.

Answer 12

I think one of the reasons is finding grass grounds all in the same city when the football is on. Basketball and Handball courts are so small that they can have both. But I think it should be in the Olympics, or at least Rugby 7s like in the Commonwealth games. All the countries not in the Commonwealth would get a chance to play and it would boost Rugby. Like France and Italy. The French league is so popular it would be a great contest to see how they would go in 7s against NZ, SA and other countries like that. The only thing would be is the GB team. I would probably win gold each time or almost every time. and selectors would have a hard job choosing from England, Wales and Scotland. And then Rugby League people would want to go in 7s, like the last commonwealth games where Australia had 3 Eels players. But yeah I think a Rugby comp would be great, or if not that, a 7s comp.

Answer 13

Essentially it is not played by enough countries, the olympics only includes sports that are played by a lot of counties, however it is growing all the time so you never know.

Answer 14

Rugby's already been ruled out for the 2012 Olympics, but is in consideration for the 2016 Olympics.

I'm guessing that part of the issue is the amount of wear'n'tear rugby puts on a team (the sport being full contact), and teams would be playing a LOT of matches in the space of 2 weeks.  15s might be feasible with abbreviated matches (20-minutes halves instead of 40), but 7s would be best suited (with 7-minute halves).

Answer 15

i think it is because the players will be really (i mean REALLY) tired playing in that period of time (2weeks?? normally 2 test matches for each nation) but i really think that sevens should be in there. rugby will eventually be an olympic sport again. and give a chance for fijians to win some gold!!(lol)

Answer 16

Hi,

I'm part of the IRB's debate with the IOC and the president of the IOC is thinking to put rugby 7's not 15's in tho 2016 Olympics.Some people might be thinking why isn't it in the 2012 Olympics because they have already confirmed the sports in the 2012 Olympics.So yea wish rugby becomes a sport in the Olympics.

Thank you for the question

Answer 17

If you want to know the definition of the term sport Rugby is the answer.  I have no clue why the IOC doesn't allow Rugby in the Olympics, but Rugby is doing fine without without the nod.  Keep playing Badminton and Table Tennis, the real athletes will be on the pitch...