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#Post#: 127505--------------------------------------------------
The International Scene gets more confusing
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: September 7, 2024, 5:11 am
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Just spotted THIS ARTICLE
HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c5yl4488y9lo
on
the BBC Sports pages.
In summary, NZ & SA are looking to do long form tours against
each other in the "even" years, and the Rugby Championship to be
played on "odd" years. However, I can't see how that can mesh
with the new "Nations Championship" that WR are planning on
introducing, as *they* are planned to replace the AIs in "even"
years & be based off the results for the years's 6N and Summer
International tours. (with Japan & Fiji added).
BUT (and it's a big but!) the whole premise of the Nations
Championship was that you'd get in an even year Each SH playing
three of the NH sides in the summer as host, with ranking
points, and playing the three other NH sides as tourists in the
Autumn with ranking points leading up to a "decider". Imagine if
you're an All Black or Springbok player. You're expected to play
in at least some of the Super Rugby, play three tests against
various NH sides & THEN a long-form Lions-like tour against
NZ/SA (delete as appropriate). They then get a couple of months
without game time & are thrust into the Autumn rounds of the
Nations Championship.
Old school tours are notorious for the toll they take on
players. It's why Lions players usually take longer than normal
to get up to full match fitness/ability after a Lions tour, and
that's just coming back to domestic level games. NZ players will
have the same amount of time off, but be expected to come back
in ready for International level play, while the SA players will
get a few weeks before they're expected by their sides to be
competing in both URC, EPCR and even International level for the
NC. From a player welfare standpoint, this to me looks crazy.
Here's my understanding of what various parties have put forward
for the calendar over the next few years:
(key: RC=Rugby Championship, NC=Nations Championship)
2024/5: 6N, Lions tour Australia, Other NH teams tour as normal,
RC, AIs.
2025/6: 6N, NZvSA long tour, 6 NH teams play against 6 SH teams,
inc SA & NZ, No RC, NC
2026/7: 6N, RC, RWC Warmups, RWC
2027/8: 6N, SAvNZ long tour, 6 NH teams play against 6 SH teams,
inc SA & NZ, No RC, NC
2028/9: 6N, Lions tour NZ, Other NH teams tour as normal, RC,
AIs.
2029/30: 6N, NZvSA long tour, 6 NH teams play against 6 SH
teams, inc SA & NZ, No RC, NC
2030/1: 6N, RC, RWC Warmups, RWC
#Post#: 127547--------------------------------------------------
Re: The International Scene gets more confusing
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: September 7, 2024, 11:56 am
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Starting to look like trouble brewing at mill and NZ/SA maybe
(underlining maybe) saying we'd get more out of touring each
other than the WR Nations League thing. Would be more lucrative
for their sponsors and, if a success, other snouts will get
nearer the troughs. Maybe it's their way of trying to force
through a global calendar to suit them?
And with the 6 NH teams, where does that leave Japan, Canada and
USA? Could be a bit of a mare here.
#Post#: 127549--------------------------------------------------
Re: The International Scene gets more confusing
DIR By: northstand
Date: September 7, 2024, 12:15 pm
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Australia in to the 6N anyone? 😜
#Post#: 127559--------------------------------------------------
Re: The International Scene gets more confusing
DIR By: RodneyRegis
Date: September 7, 2024, 2:42 pm
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Someone for Italy to beat i guess.
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