Rugby post 2019

[Strewthcobber]

Lots of easy wins to be found calendar-wise.

The example, the 6 nations is the annual jewel in the North's crown and is played at a terrible time of year weather-wise. That alone is cause for a reshuffle.

But I will say, what's the big issue with the international calendar? It makes it hard for guys to move employment wise between hemispheres? It means they're more ready when they tour us and we're more ready when we tour them?

Big deal really.

Our Super rugby season is stuffed by the timing of the June tours. They are essential for finances down here though.

Suspect the north would be more than happy to get rid of them - and that's the way they are heading anyway with Lions tour years and breaks for pre-and-post World Cup years

Moving them to, say, July means moving the domestic sesason up north to allow for an off season, which then has all sorts of effects to their calendars.

Ultimately though, Aus/NZ need 15 test matches a year to generate enough revenue to keep their players, and NH don't need/want that many. It's finding space in everyone's schedules to fit that many test matches in that is the crux

 

[amirite]

I think the June test tours are good. It breaks up test rugby.

The trouble is we don't have something like the British and Irish Cup.

 

[amirite]

Why move the 6 Nations? Thing basically sells out and has very high viewership year after year, along with being one of the top 3 (at worst) rugby tournaments in the world.

By my mind, the Euros reckon If it ain't broke don't fix it, and Euro rugby isn't "broken".

I think the best the SH Unions can hope for at this stage is for the mid-year tours to be pushed back so there's no break in Super Rugby & they don't overlap with EPR & Top 14 finals. That pretty much means TRC & EOYT also have to be pushed back, even if only by 2-3 weeks so the players get a break: problem there being the 12-week post-EOYT stand down potentially runs into Super Rugby the following year.

Because the pitches are often frozen and even when they're not it's not suitable for the best rugby product.

The test could be at any time of the year, unlike the boxing day test it's not on Boxing Day.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Because the pitches are often frozen and even when they're not it's not suitable for the best rugby product.

The test could be at any time of the year, unlike the boxing day test it's not on Boxing Day.

often?

Six nations happening in the middle of a gloomy, freezing NH winter is a feature of the competition, not a problem with it.

There's a reason TV ratings are massive, and most games would sell out several times over.

 

[stoff]

Because the pitches are often frozen and even when they're not it's not suitable for the best rugby product.

The test could be at any time of the year, unlike the boxing day test it's not on Boxing Day.

You are misunderstanding how important the timing of the tournament is to some up North, including the organising committee. Remember you are talking about a part of the world that loves 10 man, set piece heavy rugby. The weather is perfect for slowing down the backs.


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[amirite]

You are misunderstanding how important the timing of the tournament is to some up North, including the organising committee. Remember you are talking about a part of the world that loves 10 man, set piece heavy rugby. The weather is perfect for slowing down the backs.


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Do they really though? Everyone is losing their shit over hte way England and Scotland rugby.

 

[Highlander35]

Something else to be considered is the 3G, 4G and hybrid artificial pitches that are becoming more and more common in the NH.

I've only noticed it myself in the last two seasons, mostly due to Glasgow announcing their own plans, but they've been resulting in general in pitches that produce stable scrums and slick passing in all sorts of weather.

I'd not be surprised if WR (World Rugby) policy in 5-10 years was that any ground re-turfed after a certain point must be some sort of hybrid or artificial pitch to be eligible to host Tier 1 Tests and Sevens Series events.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and as it currently stands, the 6 Nations is not broken.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

A few details starting to be fed to the media:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...or-global-rugby-season-and-eligibility-status

Short version: Super Rugby starts a week earlier, June tours become July tours so there's no break in Super Rugby, EOYT's & RWC start a week earlier to keep the NH Clubs happy. No mention of shifting 6N, H35

 

[Strewthcobber]

Will be very interesting to see how a July tour works with premiership and Top 14 start dates (currently 3 Sep & 20 Aug).

Will they push those start dates back as well? And if they do will the clubs be happy with an international break after just a month or so for the reciprocal tours?

When do the NH players get an off season?