6 Quotes by Allan Payne

There is a feeling that this is too long, and possibly eight tournaments are a bit too much. While there are three key tournaments in the series - ours, Dubai and Wellington - the IRB will need to raise the profile of the others. This meeting in LA will decide what the future is going to be.

The 40,000 spectators will see spectacle of fast-running, exciting sevens rugby.

We are happy with the IRB series in that it guarantees us that we will get the big teams. But now we must also ensure that these teams get the players they want.

We will have discussions with everyone concerned about the future shape of the IRB series.

The International Rugby Board will put a tender out for bids later this year. While it is up to the directors of the union to take a decision, I think we will put forward a bid again.

I'm pretty sure there will be a number of other countries making a bid for 2009. And Hong Kong is likely to do so again, although I stress that no official decision has been taken and it is up to the directors to do so.