Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
At same token would NZ, SA and Australia really agree to possibility of relegation if 6N member not playing by same rules...
Proposed Nations Championship
- Thread starter waiopehu oldboy
- Start date
dru
David Wilson (68)
Stupid if they do.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Yeah, this whole league thing its not going to change much. Or it just wont happen.
Rugbynutter39
Michael Lynagh (62)
Yeh in my head I always new the home nations would never allow for relegation / promotion but my heart was hoping may be World rugby could dangle a carrot to entice them which yes my head knew was never realistic but gotta have your dreams.
I personally think the League of nations is a fantastic concept which could really super charge interest in rugby and advance rugby in tier 2 nations. Benefit for Australia is obvious to me as part of really promoting value of world game whilst also making pacific island countries stronger which again would be win for rugby with global rapid rugby etc on its coat tails.
I love the vision but yes I personally am skeptical if would ever see the light of day. But would love to be wrong.
I personally think the League of nations is a fantastic concept which could really super charge interest in rugby and advance rugby in tier 2 nations. Benefit for Australia is obvious to me as part of really promoting value of world game whilst also making pacific island countries stronger which again would be win for rugby with global rapid rugby etc on its coat tails.
I love the vision but yes I personally am skeptical if would ever see the light of day. But would love to be wrong.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Its not just England. None of the six nations want to risk falling out of that competition. Its worth tens of millions of dollars each year to them without even mentioning the >100 year history.
If you've never lived in that part of the world it can be a bit difficult to appreciate how good a tournament it is. We have nothing even close. Why would they want it changed?
The Honey Badger
Jim Lenehan (48)
They can still claim a Tripple Crown without playing 6 Nations.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
If (say) Scotland got relegated and replaced by Georgia, how could that happen?
The Honey Badger
Jim Lenehan (48)
I am assuming that the Home nations would still play each other.
Imagine the unimaginable. AUS gets relegated from the SH Rugby Championship. We would still play NZ in a Bledisloe.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
When in the calendar could they fit that in? That's another three weeks of internationals.
We don't have the club v country agreements they have to deal with
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
It's both understandable and disappointing at the same time. It really locks the game into the current format and prevents it from ever moving forward or evolving.
At the same time, it's essentially the biggest rugby tournament outside the RWC, so what can you do?
Rugby's history and historical structure really hold it back sometimes.
The obvious comparison is Soccer, which has all inclusive continental cups (Asian, African, Euros, Copa America, etc), continental qualification, a hugely competitive World Cup and now continental leagues. Shit we can only dream of and will likely never have.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
They do change, and I would at least somewhat welcome a sort of limited relegation system (every 2 years rather than every year, 3 game playoff Home, Away and neutral/2nd home game for bottom 6 Nations team etc.).
But I think some people are missing that it's not JUST relegation: the 2nd sticking point, that the 6 Nations needs to be on FTA is another big one that many are commenting on. That's something which is apparently impossible to guarantee as all the Broadcasting rights fall to this new managing body. They've all seen how badly cricket has done in England since the move to Sky in 2009.
But I think some people are missing that it's not JUST relegation: the 2nd sticking point, that the 6 Nations needs to be on FTA is another big one that many are commenting on. That's something which is apparently impossible to guarantee as all the Broadcasting rights fall to this new managing body. They've all seen how badly cricket has done in England since the move to Sky in 2009.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Sadly but perhaps not surprisingly, it looks like the Tier 1 nations will firmly chase money rather than the best teams by excluding Fiji and adding USA and Japan to the Rugby Championship and World League.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12208175
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12208175
zer0
John Thornett (49)
From this piece:
"Stuff understands that a major commercial opportunity has resulted in a proposed worldwide league involving the top 12 rugby countries being formalised a lot sooner than expected."
If this is the case, and if the US is being included in the RC, then I'd guess this "major commercial opportunity" involves a US broadcaster. Be it one like CBS, ESPN etc... or Amazon.
Regardless, as per my position on the second post in this thread, taking the cricket approach of further segregating the dozen or so current leading nations from the hoi polloi -- I believe this is WR (World Rugby)'s technical term for any nation not included in this old & rich boys club -- is a terrible idea.
"Stuff understands that a major commercial opportunity has resulted in a proposed worldwide league involving the top 12 rugby countries being formalised a lot sooner than expected."
If this is the case, and if the US is being included in the RC, then I'd guess this "major commercial opportunity" involves a US broadcaster. Be it one like CBS, ESPN etc... or Amazon.
Regardless, as per my position on the second post in this thread, taking the cricket approach of further segregating the dozen or so current leading nations from the hoi polloi -- I believe this is WR (World Rugby)'s technical term for any nation not included in this old & rich boys club -- is a terrible idea.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
What pisses me off the most is that Fiji which are 9th in the world have earned the right to be there and are being completely screwed over. That and the one really compelling element in the 2 divisions with pro/rel that albeit tenuous at least provided a pathway for T2 nations has in the name of self-interest been canned.
Omar Comin'
Chilla Wilson (44)
Fiji are being screwed, but it'd also be very difficult for them (or any PI team) to compete in the RC given almost all of their players are in Europe. The quality of the Fijian team in August/September would be a lot lower than in November. At least the US and Japan will be able to play at full strength throughout the entire tournament.
I don't like the lack of promotion/relegation either, but I guess there's still some progress here in that a fairly closed shop of 10 is becoming a closed shop of 12. Hopefully the 12 teams are each required to play say 2 teams outside of the world league every year. And maybe at some point in the future it could become a world league of 14 or 16 with promotion / relegation. Sadly it would probably require some bigger economy countries really knocking on the door. It's easier to ignore Georgia, Fiji and Uruguay than it would Germany, Spain and Brazil.
I don't like the lack of promotion/relegation either, but I guess there's still some progress here in that a fairly closed shop of 10 is becoming a closed shop of 12. Hopefully the 12 teams are each required to play say 2 teams outside of the world league every year. And maybe at some point in the future it could become a world league of 14 or 16 with promotion / relegation. Sadly it would probably require some bigger economy countries really knocking on the door. It's easier to ignore Georgia, Fiji and Uruguay than it would Germany, Spain and Brazil.