If Hong Kong wants to host the next Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009, then the bid should include plans for a Women's World Cup, too.
'The International Rugby Board [IRB] is looking at how a women's World Cup Sevens can be held at the same time as the next World Cup Sevens for men in 2009. It is crucial for rugby in terms of future Olympic involvement that the women's game progresses, too,' said Beth Coalter, the IRB Sevens manager.
Coalter (pictured), the former Hong Kong Sevens tournament manager, also disclosed that China was back in the frame, bidding to host a leg of the IRB Sevens series next season. It is understood mainland officials want the series to return to either Beijing or Shanghai.
The IRB will meet later this month to look at plans to hold a Women's World Cup Sevens, either at the same time as the next men's event in 2009, or even earlier. Hong Kong, who have been holding an international women's sevens tournament at the same time as the Hong Kong Sevens - this year's tournament is the ninth - will have a head start on other contenders.
But whether it is a combined World Cup or separate, having a women's World Cup is a step forward. For it to be considered as an Olympic sport, rugby has to show the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that it is genuinely available to both men and women - something which the IRB failed to do last July when the IOC voted against rugby sevens' inclusion at the 2012 Olympics.
'We realise that women's rugby is important,' Coalter said. 'It is already huge in North America and in Europe where it is played a lot. It is also popular in Asia where a lot of sevens is played. We will call for bids next month. All interested unions will have until the end of the year to do so.'