Rugby sevens can help unlock ‘massive, untapped’ Asian market, says re-elected chairman Bill Beaumont
- Englishman says the seven-a-side format has proven an ‘incredible tool’ in helping to spread the popularity of rugby around the world
- Beaumont says the disparity between teams is less in sevens with the rise of United States, Kenya and Japan
World Rugby needs to make the most of a massive and largely untapped Asian market in its efforts to globalise the game – and the sevens format may be the way to achieve this quest, said the sport’s top official.
Bill Beaumont, speaking to the media for the first time since being re-elected chairman of World Rugby on Saturday, said sevens has been successful in bridging the gap between traditional powers and rising nations.
And gaining Olympic recognition has also helped to introduce an exciting brand of rugby to a wider audience.
“I do think it’s an incredible vehicle to expand our game globally,” said Beaumont, speaking to reporters via an online press conference on Sunday. “And certainly, in Asia for instance, there is a massive untapped market that we need to take advantage of.
“Rugby sevens can be an incredible tool for developing the game. If you look back, Kenya has won the HSBC World Sevens Series and Japan have been very competitive.