‘Global rugby union tournament is only way to save the smaller nations’
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Global rugby chiefs agreed in principle to back plans for a new biennial world championship — and were immediately presented with the consequences of failing to deliver the competition, writes TheTimes.
The cross-hemisphere “Nations Championship”, featuring 24 teams in two divisions, would be based on matches in July and November, culminating in a world grand final and promotion/relegation play-offs.
Emerging nations, such as Samoa, the United States and Georgia, have offered their support because they are desperate for a guaranteed fixture schedule.
The major unions have now agreed to try to make the competition model work.
The challenge now is whether the Six Nations and their Southern Hemisphere counterparts, SANZAAR, can reach revenue share agreement.
"It can't be a financial model that's good for All Blacks, Australia, and South Africa - there needs to be a way every rugby nation benefits from this," said Dan Leo, the Chief Executive of the Pacific Rugby Player Welfare Union.
"There's not going to be a perfect solution for everyone: it's about findind common ground, compromising and going for it. If we don't do it now, it's hard to see it ever happening."
"If it takes 10 or 15 years to come back up, I'm not confident that Samoa and Tonga will be around to be a part of the conversation any more. That's how serious the situation is for us. If we've got fixtures that are guaranteed well in advance, it's going to be really helpful for our unions financially, which is key."
The new competiition model would also mean that nations in second-tier Challenger division would give up their annual one-off games against teams such as England. In return, they would receive a guaranteed fixture list and in-bound tours during a British & Irish Lions year - plus a chance to win promotion. Full story via TheTimes
