The International Rugby Board (IRB) are still hopeful of having rugby included in the 2008 Olympic Games despite the International Olympic Committee (IOC) closing the door on new sports attempting to take part in future Olympics.

Gilbert Felli, IOC director of sports, announced that no new sports would be added to the 2004 Athens Games and a special committee would study the 2008 and 2012 Games.

The IRB have specifically targeted the 2008 Games and this year sent representatives to Sydney for the Games and to Lausanne for a world conference.

"Our view is that the Olympics would be very helpful and beneficial to the game of rugby and we will continue to make representations and hope to persuade the IOC that rugby would be a worthwhile sport to be included in the Olympics," said IRB spokesman Chris Rea.

"We must find a solution for new sports knocking at the door but it will take guts to make a decision," said Felli.

IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch warned last month that the IOC was determined to keep a grip on the size of the Games. "There will be no new sports unless another sport leaves," he said.