Gold Coast rugby figures consider stepping in to save major carnival following World Sport’s collapse

Gold Coast’s rugby governing body will consider resurrecting the sports festival that has collapsed along with the company that owned it. This is how they will do it

Gold Coast’s rugby governing body will consider resurrecting a popular sports festival after the company behind it collapsed.

The Gold Coast District Rugby Union will discuss whether or not to embark on a mission to salvage the week-long carnival that brought more than 100 teams from throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to play rugby, rugby 7s and netball.

It follows the collapse of World Sport, directed by former Wallabies player Barry Honan, which went into administration on October 8 after hosting carnivals for more than 30 years.

GCDRU acting rugby manager Brooklyn Manu said the collapse was incredibly sad.

“It’s sad because everyone looked forward to that tournament in the July school holidays,” Manu said.

Gold Coast District Rugby Union acting manager Brooklyn Manu. Picture: Richard Gosling

“It presents a good opportunity for Gold Coast rugby to take it on and host it because people from everywhere come for it and with the borders open it presents a great opportunity for exposure as we are a tourism capital.

“I’m going to put that on the agenda at our first board meeting. We have the ability to run our own events. That is what we have done this year. We did it with a women’s competition at Coomera where we invited schools to play and Kristin Dunn has created the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival that has 90 teams and will be coming to Gold Coast next year.

“It might be something (new GCDRU chairman Jed Hogan) can talk to the netball community about so we can keep the kids playing.”

World Sport went into administration owing more than $100,000 to schools and sports clubs on the back of Covid-19 forcing the cancellation of events.

Creditors of World Sport are mostly schools and clubs who booked to enter the 2020 event, which was postponed to 2021 before being cancelled again. The 2022 event was also cancelled.

While their accommodation was refunded, credits they received to travel to the Gold Coast will not be honoured.

Administrator David Hambleton of Rodgers Reidy said the company’s failure could be wholly attributed to the pandemic.

Group behind Coast rugby and netball carnivals collapses

October 18, 2022: The company that runs a popular Gold Coast sports carnival has collapsed into administration owing thousands of dollars to schools and sport clubs

Covid-19 claimed the carnival, with the company behind it owing about $100,000.

World Sport, which is directed by a former Wallabies player Barry Honan, went into administration on October 8 after hosting carnivals for more than 30 years.

The family company operated the annual carnival, which included rugby, netball and a Rugby 7s tournament.

Thousands of students have participated in the carnival over 30 years.

It attracted more than 100 teams from throughout Australia, New Zealand and at its peak the United Kingdom for the week-long competition.

Creditors of World Sport are mostly school and sporting clubs, who booked to attend the 2020 event, which was postponed to 2021 before being cancelled again. The 2022 event was also cancelled.

Mr Honan said the family did all it could, incurring significant debt themselves and using pandemic assistance, to try and keep the carnival afloat.

“Whereas insurance policies may enable schools in particular to recoup deposits that have been paid, Jobkeeper was not enough to prevent Worldsport from accumulating a substantial debt in its efforts to keep the company afloat over the last three years,” he said.

Barry Honan.

General manager Louisa Trevethan.

While entrants’ accommodation was refunded, credits they received to travel to the Gold Coast will not be honoured.

Administrator David Hambleton of Rodgers Reidy said the company’s failure could be wholly attributed to the pandemic.

“It’s quite sad actually, it was quite a successful business before Covid,” he said.

“It was a business of passion, not profit, although it was turning a moderate profit before Covid hit.

“The director was really stuck in a place where no-one could do anything to assist … it’s no-one’s fault, it was Covid.”

Talks with a New Zealand organisation to take on the carnivals had been unsuccessful, Mr Honan said.

The athlete turned teacher and businessman operated the company with his family, including daughter Louisa Trevethan who was general manager.

World Sport carnivals began with nine rugby teams in 1992, with the netball carnival launching in 2004.

World Sport sold packages which included flights, accommodation and entry to the carnivals and also produced event merchandise. Mr Honan played nine tests as centre for Australia in 1968-69, including a Bledisloe Cup.