Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has backed a proposal which would see Newcastle host the International Rugby Sevens for the first time in 2020.
It comes just months after almost 200,000 people were welcomed to the city to see the first ever Newcastle 500.
Sydney is currently the licence-holder of the World Series leg up for grabs, with both ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium due for refurbishment in late 2019, meaning relocation is required.
The three-day event has the potential to inject significant tourism to the city, with Allianz Stadium welcoming 55,000 fans through its gates on the Australia Day weekend.
Nelmes has confirmed the Council has been in discussions with Rugby Australia, with a decision on the new location set for later this month.
'Our city certainly has proved it can host major sporting events, with the extroadinary success of the inaugural Newcastle 500,' She said.
The city has previously proved it has a taste for International Rugby, with almost 20,000 attending a fixture between the Wallabies and Scotland in horrendous conditions in 2012, while only a few less attended a British & Irish Lions tour match the next year.
Its understood a number of locations are being considered for the event, with a spokesperson for Rugby Australia confirming Newcastle as 'being apart of the process'.
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| Henry Hutchinson dives over in this years Sevens tournament. Image Source: News.com |
