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#Post#: 17777--------------------------------------------------
Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: Blucherquin
Date: February 28, 2019, 3:00 am
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So while the cash may end up ruining the Premiership, now they
want to destroy international rugby, kill pacific island rugby
and make the world cup pointless.
HTML https://www.rugbypass.com/news/world-rugby-set-for-radical-shake-up-reports
International rugby is set to undergo a seismic shift according
to reports from the New Zealand Herald, with plans of a proposed
World League firming.
The Herald reported that a 12-team World League – where teams
from the Rugby Championship and Six Nations will be joined by
the United States and Japan – is set to go ahead after leading
nations came to an agreement. An unknown broadcaster has also
offered to back the concept in a deal that will provide up to
NZ$14m for each nation every season.
Rumours of the proposal have been floating around for several
months and there is thought to be some urgency to sign off on
the concept with plans to launch by 2020.
The new format will reportedly see all 12 participating nations
meet once a year, with a finals series contested at the end of
the year.
Promotion and relegation have been ruled out, meaning island
nations like Fiji – currently ranked ninth in the world – Samoa
and Tonga will likely be uninvolved for at least a decade.
The Six Nations sides will travel south to each play three
randomly allocated tests, then the Rugby Championship –
potentially expanding to include Japan and the United States –
will kick off in August.
Southern sides will then head north in November to play those
they missed in July, and the top four teams on the table after
that will meet in the Northern hemisphere for the playoffs.
While the number of tests played during a non-World Cup year
would be 13 – the All Blacks have played 14 each season for the
last three years – there is concern about the increase in
travel.
#Post#: 17779--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: February 28, 2019, 3:21 am
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When this was first mooted last year I was against it. This plan
is even worse in that it effectively cuts off the Tier2/3
countries from meaningful competition against the bigger teams.
It also de-values the RWC if there's a "champion" every year.
Good to see that players are coming out against the idea.
#Post#: 17780--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: Blucherquin
Date: February 28, 2019, 3:25 am
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--- Quote from: Fearless Fred link ---
>
> When this was first mooted last year I was against it. This
plan is even worse in that it effectively cuts off the Tier2/3
countries from meaningful competition against the bigger teams.
It also de-values the RWC if there's a "champion" every year.
>
> Good to see that players are coming out against the idea.
>
--- End Quote ---
Yeah it would absolutely destroy the development of the game -
and why would you have a world cup?
#Post#: 17781--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: February 28, 2019, 3:36 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Also, you can bet that the "unknown broadcaster" would be
someone like Sky, and that the 6 Nations would stop being on
Free-to-Air TV as they want to sell the rights as a complete
package.
#Post#: 17785--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: February 28, 2019, 3:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Isn't this just the summer and autumn tests made into a league
format? I.e. these games would replace those summer/autumn
tours? Can't help feeling a lot of people on here are just
averse to change of any kind. If it goes ahead, I'm sure it will
become a success and people will love it. These changes just
don't phase me. I'm sure World Rugby has a plan for tier 2/3
countries not to be cut away - no one wants that. This is
professional elite sport. When the 5 Nations became the 6
Nations the majority were wailing - now the 6N is one of the
biggest sporting occasions of the year every year and even
non-rugby fans love it. Similar things will happen here if this
plan becomes reality. I also don't think it de-values the World
Cup in any way. Completely different vibe.
And btw, yes, I'm all for making the Prem a 14-team league and
ringfencing for a bit. So predictable, I know. Sometimes you
actually have to act and make changes to freshen things up.
Feels like rugby is on the verge of one of those phases -
whether you like it or not - so just feels to me like the best
way to be ready for it is at least keep an open mind.
Aaand prepare for backlash in 3... 2... 1...
#Post#: 17787--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: A222Quin
Date: February 28, 2019, 3:53 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
>
> Isn't this just the summer and autumn tests made into a league
format? I.e. these games would replace those summer/autumn
tours? Can't help feeling a lot of people on here are just
averse to change of any kind. If it goes ahead, I'm sure it will
become a success and people will love it. These changes just
don't phase me. I'm sure World Rugby has a plan for tier 2/3
countries not to be cut away - no one wants that. This is
professional elite sport. When the 5 Nations became the 6
Nations the majority were wailing - now the 6N is one of the
biggest sporting occasions of the year every year and even
non-rugby fans love it. Similar things will happen here if this
plan becomes reality. I also don't think it de-values the World
Cup in any way. Completely different vibe.
>
> And btw, yes, I'm all for making the Prem a 14-team league and
ringfencing for a bit. So predictable, I know. Sometimes you
actually have to act and make changes to freshen things up.
Feels like rugby is on the verge of one of those phases -
whether you like it or not - so just feels to me like the best
way to be ready for it is at least keep an open mind.
>
> Aaand prepare for backlash in 3... 2... 1...
>
--- End Quote ---
The major unions are none too benign. Self interest a plenty.
They want what sells, and Tier 2/3 isn't it.
#Post#: 17788--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: February 28, 2019, 4:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I've already got Sky so as long as my sub does not increase then
bring it on!
Not sure from a player welfare pov if this is a good plan
though?
#Post#: 17789--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: February 28, 2019, 4:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
>
> Isn't this just the summer and autumn tests made into a league
format? I.e. these games would replace those summer/autumn
tours? Can't help feeling a lot of people on here are just
averse to change of any kind. If it goes ahead, I'm sure it will
become a success and people will love it. These changes just
don't phase me. I'm sure World Rugby has a plan for tier 2/3
countries not to be cut away - no one wants that. This is
professional elite sport. When the 5 Nations became the 6
Nations the majority were wailing - now the 6N is one of the
biggest sporting occasions of the year every year and even
non-rugby fans love it. Similar things will happen here if this
plan becomes reality. I also don't think it de-values the World
Cup in any way. Completely different vibe.
>
> And btw, yes, I'm all for making the Prem a 14-team league and
ringfencing for a bit. So predictable, I know. Sometimes you
actually have to act and make changes to freshen things up.
Feels like rugby is on the verge of one of those phases -
whether you like it or not - so just feels to me like the best
way to be ready for it is at least keep an open mind.
>
> Aaand prepare for backlash in 3... 2... 1...
>
--- End Quote ---
It adds *extra* internationals after the November internationals
to come up with a winner, so player welfare will suffer, and the
club game will also suffer as players will be away on
International duty for longer.
It devalues the World Cup as there will be a yearly "Winner".
Why bother with a world cup if that's the case?
The plans specifically say that it will cut tier 2/3 nations
like Fiji, Samoa, Georgia out of this. These nations need the
financial boost that comes from seeing their teams play the big
boys. This does the exact opposite.
Putting the vast majority of the International game on PayTV is
wrong for a sport where the International game is the big money
driver & showcase. Rugby needs the exposure that free-to-air
brings.
#Post#: 17790--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: Adquin
Date: February 28, 2019, 4:24 am
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This is an awful proposal and as with all of these types of
proposals is driven by money rather than a passion for the
sport.
As ever, no thought appears to have been given to the supporters
or the players.
No summer tours to a particular country takes away the brilliant
trips to follow your country round a country in the opposite
hemisphere. It also loses the nuances of touring certain
countries (i.e. having to play at altitude and sea level in SA).
It also completely devalues the world cup as you have a world
champion every year.
At the moment all of the home nations get a relatively balanced
set of Autumn internationals (2 top teams & 1 tier 2/3). I'm
not sure how a set of Autumn internationals against Japan, USA &
Argentina (no disrespect to them) would whet the appetite of an
audience.
There is also no mention of what this would mean for future
Lions tours, how this would work in world cup years or how the
tier 2/3 nations get to have games against the tier 1 nations.
Why should Samoa & Fiji miss out on games against the 6 nations
countries?
Also, there are so many issues with how this is being proposed.
Given the "random" nature of the fixtures, there could be
massive inequalities in terms either of standard of opposition
or in terms of travel required.
Playing 3 tests against NZ, Australia and Japan would not be too
arduous from a travel point of view, however 3 tests in the same
timeframe against USA, SA and Japan would be far more taxing on
travel. There is a massive difference between playing NZ and SA
(especially at altitude) away than there is in playing them at
home.
Then there is the question of player welfare!
Rant over!
#Post#: 17793--------------------------------------------------
Re: Death of rugby part 2
DIR By: Chipstead Quin
Date: February 28, 2019, 5:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Well its certainly all about cash and not about fans or players
.
Why would you consider a World League without including Fiji (
or even a combined SSI team?)
No summer Tours , doubt on Lions , Baa Baas , and pushing Tier 2
Nations to exist on handouts .
RWC must be devalued , every 4 years when the minnows are
allowed in will still be a jolly affair but no more meaningful
than the other 3 years ( to anyone except the winner)
My biggest concern however is how it will impact on Quins , by
losing International players for extended periods
I can however see how it ties into the demands for Ringfencing
as it allows the RFU then to invest in Academies to make sure
there is a constant supply of EQP's to cope with injury and
burnout .
Still .. Im sure lots of people will make lots of £££££££ so
hey ho
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