The International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset has said that gaining admission into the Olympics is the global ruling body's priority for the New Year.

Lapasset said the IRB will focus on three areas in 2009, making rugby an Olympic sport, the ELVs and naming the hosts for the next two World Cups in 2015 and 2019 in June.

He said the 2009 season will be very important for rugby to take a big step in its development, as they are growing more and more professional.

Lapasset said the vote on which sports, if any, will be added to the Olympic Games for 2016 takes place in October.

Rugby was last played in the Olympics in 1924 but Lapasset insisted there is hope despite the fact that the sport has been denied a comeback three times in the past.