Rugby gets its World Club Championship
November 06 2008
After many suggestions in the past it seems as if many rugby fans will get their wish as of next year - a world club championship.
Rugby League have their own version, with England and Australia's champion sides playing each other in a one-off game every season, and now rugby union is set to follow the trend.
Former England hooker Phil Greening is one of the faces behind the new tournament, that in 2009 will feature Gloucester, Saracens, Western Force and an, as of yet, unnamed French club.
The 2009 tournament, the first of many Greening hopes, will take place at Singapore's famous cricket club and Greening said the event is planned to be hosted by Singapore for at least the next five years.
"This will be the first time professional clubs with world-class players such as Mike Tindall, Chris Jack and Matt Giteau have played in Singapore," Greening told Reuters.
"It is a great opportunity to bring a world-class rugby event to Asia with the historic Padang as the backdrop, the World Club Challenge will have something for everyone."
Singapore sports minister Teo Ser Luck welcomed the groundbreaking event.
"This is certainly another notch in Singapore's efforts in becoming a sports hub in the Asia Pacific Region," he told reporters.
"As Singapore continues to attract a growing number of major sporting events, including the upcoming Ocean Race and Youth Olympic Games 2010, we look forward to having the World Club Challenge as another addition to our sporting calendar."
The tournament, scheduled to start in late July will last a week, and in future years Greening hopes the event will feature the Super 14 and European champions by invitation.