Australian Rugby Union today welcomed the Australian Sports Commission’s new plan for high performance sport in this country, Australia’s Winning Edge 2012-2022.
Australia’s Winning Edge introduces new benchmarks for Australian high performance sport and an increased investment in coaching and talent identification.
ARU’s Acting CEO, Matt Carroll, welcomed the announcement and said the new Plan lays the foundation for Australia’s continued sporting success on the world stage.
“Internationally, the competition to be the best is fiercer than ever. In such a highly competitive environment the new Plan will help ensure Australia maintains its reputation for excellence and innovation in high performance sport,” Mr Carroll said.
Mr Carroll said that Rugby Sevens, already a Commonwealth Games sport, will also join the sporting programs for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
“The inclusion of Sevens in the Olympics from 2016 is a great opportunity for the Game and we look forward to supporting the ASC’s goals of top five at the Olympics, number one at the Commonwealth Games and more than 20 world champions annually.
“Australia’s Women’s Sevens team are the current World Champions and our Men’s team won silver at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and both teams will be aiming for Gold in Rio 2016.
“I congratulate the ASC’s Chair, Mr John Wylie AM and Senator Kate Lundy, Minister for Sport, on their leadership and ARU looks forward to working closely with the ASC to ensure that Australia’s Winning Edge is a success.”
