Word Club Championship

[08umema]

I know wikipedia isn't the most reliable site but nevertheless found an article on the World Club Championship played in 1986. Obviously I won't remember it as I wasn't even born then, but does anyone recall it happening?

Participant teams: SU Agen (FRA), CA Banco de la Nación (ARG), Stade Toulousain (FRA), RC Farul Constanța (ROM), Fijian Barbarians (FIJ), L'Aquila Rugby (ITA), Ponsonby RFC (NZ), West Brisbane (AUS).

In the semi-final in Toulouse, the home team Stade Toulousain defeated West Brisbane 27-3. In the final (attendance 12,000) Stade Toulousain defeated RC Farul Constanța 47-3, who eliminated Auckland's Ponsonby RFC in the other semi-final.

I was wondering if the same tournament could ever be established annually or say every two years (the years a RWC or BIL tour is not happening).

It would be interesting to see how the SH clubs perform against the NH clubs.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Need to define "club" better.

Can't speak for Safferland (but think it is similar), but in Aust and NZ clubs are still very grass roots organisations, and their players typically graduate to representative level, before being picked up for National duties.

In the Land of the Darkness, there is a provincial level (ITM Cup) between club and Super rugby. Here in the Land of Oz, there really isn't a viable equivalent between the clubs (Randwick, Gordon, Manly etc [Sydney], Brothers, GPS, Uni etc [BrisVegas], Queanbeyan, Viking, Uni-North [ACT]) and Super Rugby.

In NH, IIRC the "clubs" there are more or less playing at ITM cup level, or Super Rugby equivalents.

Probs only "super" clubs like Sydney Uni (who can almost turn out a roster of Super Rugby players in all positions) would be able to effectively complete with the NH bretheren. Not sure that the best of our Bros across the Dutch such as Ponsonby, Petone, or Waikickamookau Old Boys would be able to turn out a complete roster of pro/semi pro players either.

I think it is a good theory and will stay as such, because most clubs and franchises are focused on winning thier own domestic competitions and anything beyond is a jolly. Bit like the old chestnut of Best GPS school to play best ISA school with winner to play best school team from Queensland. Great theory, Will never happen.

Even the mungoballers do not take the World Club Challenge as seriously as they do the NRL premiership, or whatever it called is in Northern England.

 

[EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7]

Club sides here would get smoked.

 

[08umema]

Need to define "club" better.

Can't speak for Safferland (but think it is similar), but in Aust and NZ clubs are still very grass roots organisations, and their players typically graduate to representative level, before being picked up for National duties.

In the Land of the Darkness, there is a provincial level (ITM Cup) between club and Super rugby. Here in the Land of Oz, there really isn't a viable equivalent between the clubs (Randwick, Gordon, Manly etc [Sydney], Brothers, GPS, Uni etc [BrisVegas], Queanbeyan, Viking, Uni-North [ACT]) and Super Rugby.

In NH, IIRC the "clubs" there are more or less playing at ITM cup level, or Super Rugby equivalents.

Probs only "super" clubs like Sydney Uni (who can almost turn out a roster of Super Rugby players in all positions) would be able to effectively complete with the NH bretheren. Not sure that the best of our Bros across the Dutch such as Ponsonby, Petone, or Waikickamookau Old Boys would be able to turn out a complete roster of pro/semi pro players either.

I think it is a good theory and will stay as such, because most clubs and franchises are focused on winning thier own domestic competitions and anything beyond is a jolly. Bit like the old chestnut of Best GPS school to play best ISA school with winner to play best school team from Queensland. Great theory, Will never happen.

Even the mungoballers do not take the World Club Challenge as seriously as they do the NRL premiership, or whatever it called is in Northern England.

Good point I was a bit hazy with the description. I meant Super Rugby teams v Top 14 and other top tier European teams. Obviously it will never happen, but the thought of it is enough to generate a discussion!

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Good point I was a bit hazy with the description. I meant Super Rugby teams v Top 14 and other top tier European teams. Obviously it will never happen, but the thought of it is enough to generate a discussion!

Would be great to see. Could hold it in a place like Dubai as some sort of middle ground in terms of travel (though I'd prefer it was held in each individual country on rotation). Have the Super Rugby, Top 14, Pro 12 and Aviva Championship face off over 4 weeks to determine the true World Rugby Club Champion (my bet is for Super Rugby to dominate that).

 

[08umema]

Would be great to see. Could hold it in a place like Dubai as some sort of middle ground in terms of travel (though I'd prefer it was held in each individual country on rotation). Have the Super Rugby, Top 14, Pro 12 and Aviva Championship face off over 4 weeks to determine the true World Rugby Club Champion (my bet is for Super Rugby to dominate that).

Hell i'd be happy if the Super Rugby winner played the Heineken Cup winner. Would be a dam good game.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

What about Super Rugby Barbarian Selection vs Heineken Cup Barbarian Selection?

Profits from the game to go to IRB Tier 2 programme.

 

[08umema]

What about Super Rugby Barbarian Selection vs Heineken Cup Barbarian Selection?

Profits from the game to go to IRB Tier 2 programme.

Now that would be a good game. On that note, who would be in both teams?

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

Hell i'd be happy if the Super Rugby winner played the Heineken Cup winner. Would be a dam good game.

that would be the only way to do it. a one off game v Heineken Cup winner and Super Rugby final winner.

held in dubai for time travel and tv scheduling.

with some minor rescheduling, as a one off game, i am sure they could do this.

 

[EVERYFWDTHINKTHEYREA6OR7]

It would be interesting to see who was better out of Europe and Super 15. I think an average S15 would handle a European average team quite comfortably. It would be interesting to see what happes out of the best teams.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Hell i'd be happy if the Super Rugby winner played the Heineken Cup winner. Would be a dam good game.

I'd take that. Nopt too sure about a Super Rugby BaaBaas vs HEC BaaBaas would mean too much though. I know I would much rather back my provincial franchise or another Australian one ahead of what would be a SH Select team. That said, it could a an absolute cracker of a game so who knows.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

It would be interesting to see who was better out of Europe and Super 15. I think an average S15 would handle a European average team quite comfortably. It would be interesting to see what happes out of the best teams.

We would need to be a little careful drawing long bows out of the result. The European club teams play a semi-hybrid brand of rugby that differs from the 6N National teams. Gross generalisation but NH Clubs have a mix of SH and NH players(including many of the best players from RWC minnow nations), some on these are players on the rise keen to make their respective National team, and some are collecting their pensions from 3N teams. The coaching staff are the best available on the market at the time for the price the club could afford, and could be from anywhere in the world.

Basically, given the European club scene, is there still a genuine point of difference between rugby styles in the NH and the SH?

Performances so far in the RWC would suggest that the "gap", if ever there was, was more in the imagination than on the field, and if real, it is reducing.

SH national teams can play boring as batshit footy as easily as NH teams, and vice versa for entertaining footy.

 

[Ruggo]

SANZAR rep side vs Six Nations rep side. That would be an awsome clash especially with some of the rising stars in the NH. Warburton, O'brian, Grey, North just to name a few. Proceeds to go to help fund tier two rugby development. Play it anually When we are all up there for our EOY Tours.

 

[light]

Depends if the Baabaa's are selected on merit or dollars. Would rather see the best v the best than two teams full of out-of-form players only there for commercial reasons.

In response to who would make the teams, obviously the form players of each competition. The winning team would get allocated a certain number of spots in the side and then the remainder are filled with players who are considered to be the best in their positions. This would allow for combinations from the winning team to link with dynamic players from other franchises.

It's all speculative but I'd love to see this forward matchup (Assuming winning team gets allocated 3 spots minimum):
SH v NH
1. Guthro Steenkamp (Bulls) v Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester)
2. Bismark du Plessis (Sharks) v Huw Bennett (Ospreys)
3. Owen Franks (Crusaders) v Mike Ross (Leinster)
4. James Horwill (Reds) v Paul O'Connell (Munster)
5. Dannie Russouw (Bulls) v Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
6. Jerome Kaino (Blues) v Sean O'Brien (Leinster)
7. David Pocock (Force) v Sam Warburton (Cardiff)
8. Radike Samo (Reds) v Sergio Parisse (Stade Francis)

 

[08umema]

Depends if the Baabaa's are selected on merit or dollars. Would rather see the best v the best than two teams full of out-of-form players only there for commercial reasons.

In response to who would make the teams, obviously the form players of each competition. The winning team would get allocated a certain number of spots in the side and then the remainder are filled with players who are considered to be the best in their positions. This would allow for combinations from the winning team to link with dynamic players from other franchises.

It's all speculative but I'd love to see this forward matchup (Assuming winning team gets allocated 3 spots minimum):
SH v NH
1. Guthro Steenkamp (Bulls) v Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester)
2. Bismark du Plessis (Sharks) v Huw Bennett (Ospreys)
3. Owen Franks (Crusaders) v Mike Ross (Leinster)
4. James Horwill (Reds) v Paul O'Connell (Munster)
5. Dannie Russouw (Bulls) v Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
6. Jerome Kaino (Blues) v Sean O'Brien (Leinster)
7. David Pocock (Force) v Sam Warburton (Cardiff)
8. Radike Samo (Reds) v Sergio Parisse (Stade Francis)

I'd hate to be the selectors for this game!

 

[Cardiffblue]

I'd love to see:

1. Cian Healy v melon,
2. Rory Best v Bennett,
3. Mike Ross v Bomber,
4. Donncha O'Callaghan v Clarteris,
5. Paul O'Connell v AWJ,
6. Stephen Ferris v L'idiot,
7. Sean O'Brien v Breadman
8. Jamie Heaslip v HLF
9. Conor Murray v Rambo
10. Ronan O'Gara v Vatican
11. Keith Earls v Duw
12. Gordon D'Arcy v Jaw
13. Brian O'Driscoll v fox
14. Tommy Bowe v Ickle
15. Rob Kearney v Shove

would be a killer match up