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RUGBY Union's return to the Olympic movement this Saturday will be a major step forward in promoting the game in China, according to the chairman of the International Rugby Board, Vernon Pugh.

 Pugh and president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch will on Saturday sign a document in Wales, which will re-admit rugby union to the Olympic charter.

 'Signing that document on Saturday will be a major step forward in pushing the game around the world,' a delighted Pugh told the South China Morning Post.

 'We are hoping that this will be the catalyst for seeing rugby become a recognised sport in China and also towards the formation of the Chinese Rugby Union,' he added.

 Recognition as a sport under the Olympic movement will allow smaller and developing rugby nations to secure funding from their governments.

 Apart from China, Pugh said nations like the United States and Canada, where rugby is not that big a game, would benefit immensely.

 Rugby union was an Olympic sport earlier this century.

   It was last played at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris with the United States winning the gold medal.

 Technical director of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, George Simpkin welcomed the move and said it would be a great boost in the territory's bid to promote the game in China.

 'The Chinese government have already told us that if rugby becomes an Olympic sport, they would provide financial assistance to the game and also help in setting up a national body.

 'While this agreement between the IOC and the IRB does not necessarily mean that rugby will become an Olympic sport, it will certainly help to bring the game into the limelight and it is a move in the right direction,' said Simpkin.

 Pugh said that while the IRB had no intentions of pushing for the game in its 15s or 7-a-side format, to be included in the Olympics, they would try to get the 10-a-side version included by the 2004 Games.

  He added that Samaranch was keen about the prospect.

  'Samaranch told me that he viewed rugby as a sport with a great capacity and an ethos which was closer to the Olympic spirit than many sports,' said Pugh.

  'We are not all that worried about getting the game into the Olympics as we have our own World Cup.

  'What is important to us is that it will help at least 85 per cent of our members to gain financial and other assistance from their governments,' added Pugh.

  The IRB currently comprises 65 member Unions.

   China are still not part of the IRB.

  The landmark agreement is the culmination of much discussion between the IRB and its rival, the French-dominated Federation Internationale de Rugby Amateur (FIRA), which in fact had put in its own application before the IRB.

  Both were told that membership of the IOC was impossible until they decided which one ran world rugby.

  Pugh said this was settled earlier this month in France, when he signed an agreement with Albert Ferrasse, head of FIRA, who withdrew their submission to the IOC.

  After signing the document, Samaranch will watch the Test this Saturday between South Africa and Wales at the Cardiff Arms Park.

  Although a stout Welshman, Pugh said it would not be the ideal game of rugby for Samaranch to witness.

   'I think Wales will be very lucky if they can hold the South Africans to within 30 points,' he said.

  But rugby's Olympic bid has met with a stony response from the England authorities with the secretary of the Rugby Football Union Dudley Wood saying: 'There is no enthusiasm on our part for the Olympics. We already have enough competitions and commitment in international rugby without the Olympics adding to them.' 



Olympic seal a boost for China