Rugby

On Saturday I was lucky enough to attend a rugby match between Uzbekistan and India at the stadium in Dostlik, just outside Tashkent. The Uzbek team won convincingly, finishing with a magnificent try in the last few minutes of the match, when one of the Uzbek players forced his way through the Indian defenders and made a long run to the line. There was a friendly and supportive crowd at the match, which took place in the presence of senior officials from World Rugby – the world governing body for Rugby Union football – and Asia Rugby.

I haven’t played rugby since I was at school, but even for someone as generally hopeless at sport as I am, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the drama of the match. I admire the skill of the players, and am fascinated by the differences of style between teams. The combination of speed, strength and intelligence that’s needed for the best play can be a joy to watch.

Uzbekistan is a relatively new rugby playing nation, but it has been a member of World Rugby since 2014, and the women’s team won the Asian Olympic Pre-Qualifier tournament in Chennai in March, which gives them the chance to compete for a place at the 2016 Rio Olympics. I wish them success.

In September and October this year the Rugby World Cup will be played in England and Wales. 20 teams will compete, from 18 September to 31 October. It will be the biggest sporting event in England since the Olympics, and we look forward to welcoming Rugby fans from around the world. The 2012 Olympics showed Britain’s ability to organise major international sporting events and to offer a great experience to international visitors, and I’m confident that the Rugby World Cup will do the same.