Super Rugby Pacific 2025

[Highlander35]

Just play everyone a relatively even amount of times - ideally twice home and away? Seems really simple to me honestly.

Unless we have like 10+ teams in each conference - the idea absolutely sucks IMO. Will get incredibly boring and repetitive quickly.

Full H&A is great. Can you squeeze the approx 23 gameweeks required (18 games + 3 weeks playoffs + 2 byes) in before the first weekend in July for the mid-year internationals?

If this were an ordinary year, that would mean having round 1 be on Jan 24-26, rather than Feb 14-16 as it was this year: and even earlier if you want a week off between Super Rugby finals and the inbound tests.

 

[JRugby2]

Full H&A is great. Can you squeeze the approx 23 gameweeks required (18 games + 3 weeks playoffs + 2 byes) in before the first weekend in July for the mid-year internationals?

If this were an ordinary year, that would mean having round 1 be on Jan 24-26, rather than Feb 14-16 as it was this year: and even earlier if you want a week off between Super Rugby finals and the inbound tests.

So be it? Every other pro comp in the world including plays through January. We play all of our trial games in the heat, and it's hot pretty much all the time in places like Fiji - so that's not a legitimate reason not to IMO

If we can sort out the logistical issues around stadium use, we should be doing this.

 

[Dan54]

Naa @JRugby2 , I think even Feb is too early to be playing rugby in the heat of Brissy etc. Every other pro comp is basically playing in middle of winter in January.
Though you could do it if really needed, but playing in 30 degree heat isn't good.

 

[Wilson]

May as well have the July window pushed back a bit, there's plenty of room between it and the Rugby Championship. Would give breathing room between it and the Northern club finals too (before the French add a couple more weeks to their season).

 

[Dan54]

May as well have the July window pushed back a bit, there's plenty of room between it and the Rugby Championship. Would give breathing room between it and the Northern club finals too (before the French add a couple more weeks to their season).

Great idea, although probably have trouble pushing it back as it starts getting close to NH club comp? Basically player rest protocols between seasons. Be good if we could get it all sorted though.

 

[JRugby2]

Naa @JRugby2 , I think even Feb is too early to be playing rugby in the heat of Brissy etc. Every other pro comp is basically playing in middle of winter in January.
Though you could do it if really needed, but playing in 30 degree heat isn't good.

I agree it's not ideal but it can be managed - I'm not against modifications to the game (eg: when it gets to above 30 or whatever - playing in quarters, extended breaks, extended benches or relaxed sub laws) if it makes it work. We just saw Japan and Wales go at it in mid 30 degree temperatures, and it's regularly that hot year round in the islands.

Ultimately the players should be expected to adapt.

 

[Wilson]

Great idea, although probably have trouble pushing it back as it starts getting close to NH club comp? Basically player rest protocols between seasons. Be good if we could get it all sorted though.

What are they gonna do, send out B teams?

I don't see why we would continue to timebox our club season for the sake of theirs when they don't even respect the test window enough to send out full strength squads.

 

[Highlander35]

The window was already pushed back after the 2019 RWC no? Games went from being scheduled on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of June to 1st, 2nd and 3rd weekends of July, notionally to allow for Super Rugby to conclude prior to the window.

 

[Wilson]

It was moved, partially for Super Rugby, partially to give the European club comps time to finish before the tests so they would (or at least could) bring out full strength squads. The French then went ahead and pushed the top 14 finals out a month.

 

[Dan54]

What are they gonna do, send out B teams?

I don't see why we would continue to timebox our club season for the sake of theirs when they don't even respect the test window enough to send out full strength squads.

Not disagreeing mate, but they not going to sign up for changing the test window is what I meant. And like it or not down this way we need the income.