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That or European club rugby becomes so rich that the unions can't possibly compete. Though even then I guess there's the option of just contracting one full time national team. Actually maybe that could work? RA contract 20-30 players per year on full time contracts, and then endorse a full...

I think the problem with this is if you need 6-10 weeks for a rep version of Super Rugby then you'd struggle to get investors interested in buying into a domestic competition that could only run for 10-12 weeks - and the domestic comp would be clearly overshadowed by the Super Rugby tournament...

I think this would certainly be possible for Australian rugby too. I have little doubt we could have an 8-10 team professional domestic comp (or mostly domestic) using an MLS type model. Whether it would generate enough income to keep top players in Australia is doubtful though, and even if it...

Seems an unlikely amount of money to put in if they expected it to be like D1 Rugby. Maybe they just thought this season would be like that. I think it would be a shame to give up after just 1 year, especially when it seems they haven't really given it a proper go. But I guess you have to expect...

Well to be averaging about a third of MLS in the first season is pretty encouraging. Especially when it's been a bit of a soft launch. Just looked up the current MLS broadcast deal - they make $90 million per season. Obviously that's not just from 3 times the average ratings - they play a lot...

It's good to see the amount of money behind it. Have you heard anything about how it's been rating on cbs or the other networks showing games? I would expect the ratings to be small, but if there's any signs of growing interest that would be a big deal. I think the competition is going to...

Sacramento makes a lot of sense. Only the one major sporting team in the city (the Kings in the NBA) and it had the best crowds in Pro Rugby. Decent sized rugby community there by US standards too from what I've heard.

I think it'd be ideal to avoid tier 1 teams playing real minnows, but even if you had a tier 1 v tier 3 match from time to time it'd be no problem because the tier 1 team could win with a B team. Africa is probably the one region where this would be unavoidable because there's only 1 top tier...

Definitely. I wonder if there's any appetite to move away from having so many automatic qualifiers and run proper qualifying tournaments like they have in soccer. In the soccer world cup only the host qualifies automatically. Could be a cool way to have more tier 1 vs tier 2 matches outside...

I can't see much chance of any appeal being successful. Though I do feel a bit for these unions as I'm sure there was no intention to field ineligible players and they just lacked the resources or assistance to check these things thoroughly. No doubt they received bad advice from other unions or...

LA has this reputation for being a pretty poor sports city. I think the crowds for the NFL there haven't been great for example (relative to everywhere else, especially when taking into account population). It is a huge place though so hopefully rugby can find a decent niche if they take a team...

One thing not mentioned on this thread last weekend was that Brazil beat Argentina XV 36-33. They actually pipped the Crusaders for the biggest comeback of the weekend as they were down 33-3 at half time. I don't know exactly how strong the Argentinian side was but it contained at least 3...

This wouldn't be my preferred outcome but a potential option to keep Super Rugby alive is to seriously contract it. E.g. 2 Australian teams, 3 NZ teams, 2 (maybe 3) South African, 1 Argentinian, 1 Japanese (maybe). Single round robin then semi finals. All players centrally contracted by the...

I doubt that's the case, but even if it is, who says they wouldn't be able to enter an expanded 7 or 8 nations? If the Celtic unions and Italy want them at club/provincial level they may well want them at test level too.

I think there's two potential solutions that allow Australia to have 5 teams in a Trans-Tasman comp. The best, IMO, would be for NZ to relax their All Blacks eligibility slightly so that some New Zealanders can play for Australian teams (or other teams in the competition) and remain eligible...

A Georgian rugby website is claiming that Romania, Spain and Belgium will all be disqualified, that Russia will qualify directly as Europe 1, and Germany will now play against Portugal for the right to face Samoa in the world cup playoff. Not sure how good their sources are, but if true Samoa...

I'm all for integrating the US and Canada into SANZAAR competitions, I just don't think it should be in a long form international sports league ala Super Rugby is now. Involve them at test level and in a shorter champions league format for sure. But the US has already started their own...

If they hadn't stuffed up 18 teams so badly, and if the US and South America weren't already setting up their own leagues then maybe that idea (20 teams, 4 conferences - 1 in the Americas) could have worked. But as it stands it just seems ridiculous. I think the best option now is to go to...

If they were to play Spain then they'd probably still win as Spain would also be severely affected by the timing. All their top players are in the French leagues. If they were to play Russia (or somehow Romania) then I think they'd be screwed as those teams would be virtually at full strength...

So do you think the UAR are still committed to the Jaguares staying in Super Rugby for the long term or do you think they might look to focus on this league instead? The fact they are changing the selection policy for the Pumas to include overseas based players would surely weaken the Jaguares...