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2015 will be remembered as a very special and record-breaking year as Rugby World Cup reached and inspired participants around the globe in unprecedented numbers, reflecting the excitement and positivity around a sport that continues to experience record growth on all fronts. During 44 glorious days in September and October, records tumbled, unforgettable moments were created and friendships were made as the world’s top players showcased the very best of the sport and its character-building values to an unprecedented
global audience. On the field, New Zealand were worthy champions, but rugby was undoubtedly the winner. RWC 2015 was the most competitive and compelling edition to date, the tournament of rankings upsets, heroic performances and positive, attacking rugby. It delivered the smallest average winning margin of any Rugby World Cup, reflecting our commitment to investment in the emerging rugby YEAR IN REVIEW 2015 WORLD RUGBY 03Bernard LapassetWorld Rugby ChairmanCher amis,A SPECIAL AND RECORD-BREAKING YEARpowers, while the excitement on the field was replicated off the field where full and vibrant stadia set the tone for a tournament that had players and fans at heart. The exciting momentum will continue into 2016 as we look forward to our Olympic Games return after a 92-year absence. If our flagship men’s and women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is anything to go by we can anticipate thrilling and highly-competitive action that will capture hearts and minds at the Games and project rugby to new audiences around
the world. We are already converting our Olympic opportunity and there is no doubt that inclusion is a major catalyst behind record participation growth since inclusion was confirmed in 2009. In 2015 we reached seven million participants, while an additional one million children in more than 120 nations were introduced to the sport through our successful Get Into Rugby programme. Our mission to grow the rugby family is underpinned by a robust and targeted investment programme that will see a record £201 million pumped into the global game between 2013-16, eclipsing the previous investment cycle by 34 per cent and laying the foundations of sustainable growth from the playground to the podium. Record growth delivers opportunities and challenges in equal measure, and as we grow we must ensure that we remain true to our character-building values. At a time when sporting integrity is under the microscope, sport must promote inclusivity and integrity. World Rugby is committed to protecting our players through robust anti-doping, anti-corruption and player welfare programmes and we will continue to ensure that players at all levels are at the very heart of our decision-making process as we launch new representative and agile governance structures during 2016, structures that will provide a blueprint for responsible growth and prosperity.I look forward to working with you all in 2016 as we welcome new participants to the global rugby family. WORLD RUGBY COUNCIL Back row: A Pichot (Argentina), G Davies (Wales), A Buchanan (Wales), M Dodson (Scotland), S Tew (New Zealand), P Whelan (Ireland), J Spencer (England), P Boyle
(Ireland), K Tokumasu (Asia Rugby)Middle row: H Schuster (Oceania Rugby),
P Camou (France), J Roux (South Africa),
C Barbieri (Sudamérica Rugby), B Pulver (Australia), M Hawker (Australia), B Impey (New Zealand), O Morariu (Rugby Europe), C Lefevre (Canada), B Gosper (Chief Executive Officer)Front row: T Yabe (Japan), A Bougja (Rugby Africa), J Jeffrey (Scotland), O Hoskins (South Africa, Vice-Chairman), B Lapasset (Chairman), J Laurans (France), B Latham (Rugby Americas North), B Beaumont (England), G Dondi (Italy)CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME
