By Frankie Deges in Guadalajara
 
A very well received interest awaits the debut of Rugby Sevens in the XVI Pan American Games that come to a conclusion, incidentally, with the oval ball game as the last sporting event before what promises to be a superb Closing Ceremony in Guadalajara, Mexico.
 
This is the first time any form of rugby will be played in the Pan Am Games and already the two tournament days, Saturday and Sunday, are sold out at the Tlaquepaque Stadium, a purpose-built facility that rugby will take ownership of after the Games.
 
“There has been superb interest from the international media as well,” explained Roberto Kenny, Head of Television and Media Services for the Organising Committee. With a staff of almost 600 in charge of the smooth broadcasting of the Games – up to 21 events were broadcast concurrently – Rugby Sevens has been given a superb window of opportunity.
 
“On the final day of the Games there are only three sporting events. The Marathon, the basketball final and rugby. For about one and a half hours, the only event we will be broadcasting is rugby.”
 
The level of interest is such that, according to Kenny, some 160-camera crews applied for a position on Sunday. “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to give them all access as the facilities don’t allow us to. Yet that shows how important the rugby event is.”
 
Exceeding expectations

“These Games are suffering from their own success. Coverage has been the highest ever (there are 79 rights holding television companies in the Americas alone) and ticket sales have also been exceedingly high. Rugby is, again, a sold-out event. We can’t be happier.”
 
After more than 850 hours of High Definition television production over 16 days, that the final sporting action is rugby is, “incredible,” in the words of Tom Jones, the IRB Regional General Manager for the North America Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA).
 
Jones, a Technical Delegate at the Pan American Games, is delighted with the level of local interest as Mexican rugby continues to grow. “It is very important for the Game locally, but also because after the amount of interest these Games have generated, the attention will be solely focused on our Rugby Sevens tournament on Sunday.
 
“We imagine that some spectators at the Tlaquepaque Stadium will be enjoying rugby for the first time. We will have some very good action for them, with the likes of Argentina and USA, core HSBC Sevens World Series teams, and the other six nations, including the Mexican Serpents, having played in different stages of the circuit in recent years.”
 
IRB Sevens Manager Beth Coalter is delighted that Sevens has made it to the Pan American Games. “We have seen the effect it has had on players in other events such as the World Games, the Commonwealth, Asian and Pacific Island Games.
 
Positive feedback

“It gives them the opportunity to be with other sportsmen and women in a multi-sport event of this magnitude. Players are able to mix and live what is altogether a great experience. The feedback here in Guadalajara has already been very positive.”
 
The HSBC Sevens World Series kicks off on Australia’s Gold Coast on 25 November, so for the eight nations involved – Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Guyana, Mexico, Uruguay and USA the Games – these Games provide the season opener.

“Although the outcome of the Games has no bearing on the Series, it will be very interesting how well the eight nations perform. We know the hard work they’ve all put into their preparation,” added Coalter.
 
Rugby is played throughout the Americas with 21 Unions in IRB Membership, either from CONSUR (Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby) or NACRA. There are also a handful of other countries playing the Game with different degrees of development in the Americas.
 
“Rugby in the Pan American Games and inclusion in the Olympics from 2016 will continue to give a huge push to the Game in our region as it is already doing in the rest of the world,” said Jones.