International Rugby Sevens Adelaide Success

Premier Mike Rann
Minister for Economic Development
Minister for Social Inclusion
Minister for the Arts
Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change

South Australia has reaped the benefits of the International Rugby Sevens World Series, held in Adelaide for the first time this year.

Official figures show the event drew attendances of 25,222 over two days, including 3552 people who travelled from interstate or overseas. The event generated $2.5m in direct visitor expenditure.

Adelaide has secured the rights to host a leg of the series for five years. The International Rugby Board last week said this year's series was the most successful in the history of the event.

Premier Mike Rann says the International Rugby Sevens event is the ideal addition to the State's calendar.

"Rugby is a truly international sport with a passionate audience in 130 countries. The broadcast of Sevens reaches 150 million homes through 29 international broadcasters," Mr Rann said.

"The event is among a series of major event wins for South Australia in recent times.

"Last month, the State Government announced that South Australia will host a new international tennis tournament from 2009, featuring top current, past and junior players.

"The World Tennis Challenge Adelaide will kick off the week before the 2009 Australian Open and run from January 15 to 17.

"Later this year we will host our first annual two-week Adelaide International Guitar Festival and we have supported the Fringe to become an annual event.

"In October, thousands of people will come to South Australia for the Australasian Masters Games.

"South Australia's brilliant blend of festivals, events and attractions is helping us to draw growing numbers of international tourists to South Australia.

"We expect that the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide will continue to grow in popularity, attracting even more visitors to enjoy the event's festival atmosphere."

John O'Neill, Australian Rugby Union Chief Executive, was delighted with the response to Adelaide's inaugural event.

"To see that 9 in 10 people who attended this year were so impressed that they plan to return in 2008 is a real credit to Adelaide and the organisers of the Sevens," Mr O'Neill says.

"The fact almost 70 percent of those who attended were South Australians shows how well the locals embraced the event, which carried a real festive atmosphere."

Rob Nelson, Tournament Director and Chief Executive of SA Rugby, was equally excited: "We're rapt with the response from the Adelaide public and particularly number of visitors who came from interstate and overseas.

"We believe our goals were achieved in presenting a highly entertaining international sports event which both rugby fans and those new to the game could enjoy.

"No doubt our first year was always going to be the toughest, the challenge made even greater given we were at the back end of an amazing period of events in Adelaide plus we had Easter to deal with.

"The event is secured until at least 2011 and given the response to the first event we are quite optimistic about the future."

Rugby Sevens' brand of fast-paced action, world class players and global locations is attractive to sports fans worldwide.

Last season's IRB Sevens World Series attracted crowds in excess of 250,000.

The 2008 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide will be held at Adelaide Oval, 5-6 April 2008.

For further information contact Lachlan Parker on 0417 810 890 or Leah Manuel on 0422 006 647