Rugby News from unexpected places

[Wilson]

I’m not sure Spain would be that high on my wish list tbf considering the tourist experience in recent years as well as the social attitude to visitors for a sport most of them care nought about.

But what are the alternatives? New Zealand would remain a top choice but are they willing to work with WR (World Rugby) (World Rugby) in these uncertain times.

I don't think a solo New Zealand world cup will ever happen again, at least on the Men's side of things - the economics just don't stack up. There's probably a decent chance of a joint Australian/New Zealand bid though, but not for a while given we're about to host. Maybe for 2067 as a throwback to the first world cup on it's 20th iteration.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

The Rugby Premier League (Ind8an backed 7s league) will run June 1-15 featuring 6 franchises sourc8ng players from around the world.

 

[Omar Comin']

The Rugby Premier League (Ind8an backed 7s league) will run June 1-15 featuring 6 franchises sourc8ng players from around the world.

Apparently 16 minute matches divided into four quarters, with the clock being stopped 'for each transgression, decision, and injury.'

Will be interesting to see if it finds a tv audience in India. Seems like the right sort of idea for a sevens league, short and sharp over a couple of weeks with a small number of teams. Assume it will be 3 games per night most nights of the week, then semis and final.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Apparently 16 minute matches divided into four quarters, with the clock being stopped 'for each transgression, decision, and injury.'

Will be interesting to see if it finds a tv audience in India. Seems like the right sort of idea for a sevens league, short and sharp over a couple of weeks with a small number of teams. Assume it will be 3 games per night most nights of the week, then semis and final.

Where did you see the 16 minute matches?

 

[Omar Comin']

Where did you see the 16 minute matches?

Rugby Premier League to start on June 1 with six teams, 30 foreign players - The Statesman

Some of the top names in Rugby 7s like Perry Baker of the United States, a two-time World Rugby 7s Player of the Year and three-time Olympian and South Africa's Rosko Speckman, a two-time Olympic bronze medal winner, will be along the 30 marquee players that will grace the six franchises of the...

www.thestatesman.com

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Rugby Premier League to start on June 1 with six teams, 30 foreign players - The Statesman

Some of the top names in Rugby 7s like Perry Baker of the United States, a two-time World Rugby 7s Player of the Year and three-time Olympian and South Africa's Rosko Speckman, a two-time Olympic bronze medal winner, will be along the 30 marquee players that will grace the six franchises of the...

www.thestatesman.com

That seems like an odd format to be going with. Not the quarters idea. That's something I've long thought should be trialed for 7s in terms of building out the games for something more friendly to a league format. But the 4 minute a quarter bit. Why not 7 minute quarters? Some time ago now a proof of concept fora proposed 7s league in the US to be called Super 7s Rugby League used 4x12 minute quarter. Which were probably a little too long but having managed to actually get access to the video of that event I thought 7 minute quarters would work better. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Edit: reading it again. Stopping the clock for things like scrums and lineout will likely mean the quarters will be more than 4 minutes on average.

 

[Omar Comin']

That seems like an odd format to be going with. Not the quarters idea. That's something I've long thought should be trialed for 7s in terms of building out the games for something more friendly to a league format. But the 4 minute a quarter bit. Why not 7 minute quarters? Some time ago now a proof of concept fora proposed 7s league in the US to be called Super 7s Rugby League used 4x12 minute quarter. Which were probably a little too long but having managed to actually get access to the video of that event I thought 7 minute quarters would work better. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Edit: reading it again. Stopping the clock for things like scrums and lineout will likely mean the quarters will be more than 4 minutes on average.

I think that longer format was imagining a more traditional sporting league with all teams traveling around playing home and away. Whereas for the RPL the games will be 23-30 minutes in total duration, but it'll still be all teams playing at the same venue. They wouldn't want to go too high with 13 players per squad.

I wonder if a similar concept to this would work here, but with both men's and women's teams. With 6 teams and both genders you could keep the standard 14 minute matches and if each team plays once per night it'd take approx 2 hours. Could be a nice tv product for 11 days in November, or during the summer, featuring most of the best sevens players from Australia, NZ and the islands, and maybe the odd super rugby player. If you played it all at 1-2 smallish stadiums in a single city you'd keep costs down.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Watched the England/Spain U18s game last night. A lot is being made of Spain at present with their qualifying for the RWC and their bid to host to 2035 event.

And going from what I saw last night they'll be competitive enough if they do host it. It may have ended up 43-19 in the end but it was a score that flattered the English boys.

Both team went into half time 12 a piece. And only for brief moments of play where they were good enough to capitalise the game was very willing and very even. If Spain had a little more composure at times they would have evened the score up a bit.

Hopefully we see them get more consistent opportunities to play at this event as its obvious that the likes of England, France etc. have the advantage of Academy and schools systems while Spain has only just set theirs up. So the 16 year old today will have a couple of years of develop under their belt in 2027 if they are still playing.

I think they have Scotland next. And if I were them I'd be taking Spain seriously.

I was also impressed with the Spanish 9. Crisp pass. Good kicking game. Lively. But also made good, quick decisions that caught the English boys off guard and kept the pace of the game high.

Just adding to the above. I've watched 3 games from the 6Ns U18s tournament and isometrics that sticks out is the pace of games. They are played at high speed with a lot of endeavour. No messing around just straight unto every element. If we can get the professional game to match that of the 18 year old kids then the game will be in a good place.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I think that longer format was imagining a more traditional sporting league with all teams traveling around playing home and away. Whereas for the RPL the games will be 23-30 minutes in total duration, but it'll still be all teams playing at the same venue. They wouldn't want to go too high with 13 players per squad.

I wonder if a similar concept to this would work here, but with both men's and women's teams. With 6 teams and both genders you could keep the standard 14 minute matches and if each team plays once per night it'd take approx 2 hours. Could be a nice tv product for 11 days in November, or during the summer, featuring most of the best sevens players from Australia, NZ and the islands, and maybe the odd super rugby player. If you played it all at 1-2 smallish stadiums in a single city you'd keep costs down.

Somewhere like Ballymore would be decent. I'd like to see something like this. The issue is cost. But if you get us, NZ and Fiji on board that alone would give you a solid base of players.

I actually wouldn't mind using the RPL format either. You could run two men's and two women's games a night. For around 2 hours of content.

 

[Omar Comin']

Somewhere like Ballymore would be decent. I'd like to see something like this. The issue is cost. But if you get us, NZ and Fiji on board that alone would give you a solid base of players.

I actually wouldn't mind using the RPL format either. You could run two men's and two women's games a night. For around 2 hours of content.

Proof of concept could even just be 1 week, 2~ hours each night. Single round robin and finals. Decent cash bonus for the winners and/or some other perk.