Why I Won't Be Watching the Rugby World Cup 9/14/2015 2:15:54 AM
The 2015 Rugby Union World Cup is about to commence with the host city being Newcastle in England. This won't be the first time England has hosted the event and there will be matches played in Wales, Ireland and France. Two of these nations have also hosted the Rugby World Cup. Furthermore, it has also been hosted twice by Australia and New Zealand, (once jointly) and once in South Africa.
This is why I will not be watching the Rugby World Cup. The same nations host the event each time. How can it be a world cup if that happens? I have heard one counter argument that if any of the so called "minnow" nations were to host it, there would be the case of the host nation not making it to the second round. So what? Has anyone thought that letting one of the minnow nations host the event might actually raise the profile of the game in that nation? The 1994 World Cup in the USA played a major role in raising football's (soccer's) profile there.
On top of that, Fiji and Samoa are both rugby nations and have progressed out of the pool rounds on several occasions. So, why not hold it there? But no, the rugby authorities continue to hold the World Cups in the same nations. That reeks of favouritism to me.
Now I have heard that the 2019 will be held in Japan, a true rugby minnow nation. If that's the case I will watch that world cup, especially because while Japan might not impress on the field, they will still make it a great event. And then I would like to see other nations get a chance too.
