UAE to bid for RWC Sevens 2018

Editor

It appears Dubai will be making a bid to host the 2018 RWC Sevens as they look to stage the event for the second time in nine years.

It appears Dubai will be making a bid to host the 2018 World Cup Sevens as they look to stage the showpiece for the second time in just nine years.

Russia hosted the competition in 2013 but their attendances were not at capacity, which the UAE Rugby Federation hope to use as a selling point.

According to sport360.com, the International Rugby Board will weight up interest from nations such as England, Fiji, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, Singapore, Spain, USA and Wales, with official bids to be submitted by December 2014.

“We are bidding for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, it is a very hot topic for us as we started the bidding process yesterday [Saturday],” UAE RF secretary general Qais Al Dhalai told the website.

“This will be in partnership with the Dubai government. We are going to lobby heavily for this, for our nation.

“The bidding form is a long document, with requests about many sides of the game – commercial, technical, communication, player welfare, stadium, referees etc.”