By Ian from NZ
September 24th 2008 @ 8:06am
International Player Series (IRB steals my idea)
The IRB are desperate to add some meaning to the rugby calendar outside the World Cup and have devised the idea of a biennial World Series which would involve the world’s top 10 nations – New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, England, Wales, France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
According to UK newspaper, the Daily Mail, the World Series would begin as a round-robin competition, the sides playing each other once, with all Six Nations games and some Tri-Nations results counting towards the World Series.
Argentina would play Sanzar nations when they’re not involved in Tri-Nations tests. For example, Argentina would play the All Blacks the same week the Wallabies play the Springboks. Tests between the northern and southern hemisphere nations would take place in the June and November test windows.
At the end of the two-year period the top-placed nations would play each other in a one-off game to claim the title of World Series champions. Wembley Stadium is being eyed as the venue for this game because its 90,000 seats make it the most financially attractive.
My comments: I posted a similar idea on my blog months ago here : International Playing Window with Revenue Sharing [April 2008]. Thank god the IRB reads my blog. I hope it works out.
Possible ideas.
1) The playoffs should be 4 teams playing a semi and grand final, just like the current super 14 playoffs. Complete this over two weeks.
2) Have two divisions. Division 1 – The top 10 teams mentioned. Division 2 – The teams numbered from 11 to 20 ( Samoa, Tonga, Japan, USA, Canada, Georgia, etc).
3) Play the division 2 playoffs as pre match for divison 1 playoffs. So the grand final is two games 1.00pm division 2, 2.30pm division 1. Now wouldnt that pull the world wide audience ratings .
4) Division 1 prize money 75%, Division 2 prize money 25% of all total price money available. As I said in (1) with 4 teams in each division making the playoffs, I suggest all teams get some level of prize money for making the playoffs. You cant have teams going to the playoffs and lose money due to travel and living costs. The tournment is about generating cash for teams, so no playoff team should lose financially just for being there !
5) Should the ranking be based on how the teams finished in the most recent rugby world cup. Could you imagine Wales or Ireland in division 2. I guess it will be based on commercial clout, rather than recent performance.
NOW thats a good idea!
Going to the Waratahs v Brumbies blockbuster at ANZ Stadium, Saturday 24 April? If you're keen to meet up with other Roarers, register you interest and we'll keep you informed on the place to meet. Register now.
Get Australia's best Rugby opinion emailed daily.
Like this content? Buzz it up!
Free Email updates:
Our daily emails are only sent if there is content for the sport or that author. You can subscribe to multiple daily emails; or get the daily Roar email with all our content in it. We value privacy. More...


(6)
![While Matthew Lloyd’s reckless hit on Brad Sewell has inevitably received plenty of attention this week in the midst of the debate about ‘the bump’, the Essendon forward’s act should also initiate discussion about the need for a send-off rule in AFL footy.
With his side trailing by 22 points at the main break, the Bombers [...] Ben Somerford: Lloyd’s hit raises the question of the send-off rule](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/lloyds-hit-raises-th.jpg)
![I settled in front of the box late on Sunday night to catch the most recent episode of the Australian cricket team’s trek through Britain. I wanted to check whether the loss of the Ashes (a TEST series) would have any impact on their performance in shorter forms of the game, especially with the captain [...] Geoff Lawson: Twenty20 can be fun, but only if you’re winning](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/twenty20-can-be-fun-th.jpg)
![With England due to face Australia for the 8th time in one-day internationals in the past few weeks – and the 15th time in all cricket in three months – it seems an approapriate time to pour petrol on the fire of debate that is surrounding the 50-over game.
The problem, certainly from where I’m sitting, [...] Alec Swann: One day cricket is a case of familiarity breeding contempt](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ecb-forces-one-day-cricket-james-hopes-th.jpg)
![Expansion hasn’t been the golden ticket to significantly better crowd figures with a below 10,000 average crowd for the last round highlighting the complexities of drawing punters at this time of the year. But rather than being the ticket to better crowds, expansion is partly the reason for the deplorable crowds in Brisbane.
Brisbane came into [...] Adrian Musolino: FFA needs to reconsider expansion plans for 2010/11](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ffa-needs-reconsider-th.jpg)
![The race for Bradford Bulls forward Sam Burgess looks no clearer if the buzz of the press room is anything to go by.
I was in London last week following the Challenge Cup final for a certain paymaster and in the media filled bars following various events, my antipodean twang often resulted in discussions about the [...] Steve Kaless: Crowe, Sea Eagles fighting to sign UK star Burgess](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/crowe-sea-eagles-th.jpg)
![Despite last week’s Indian debawcle (note Tony Greig-style pronunciation to commemorate his Bogong-like arrival for the summer), every pundit and his canine thinks Australia will thrash a New Zealand team missing Jacob Oram and the Bond brothers, Shane and James.
However, long-suffering Black Caps fans can take a quantum of solace from the following list [...] Andrew Jones: The Top 5 Kiwi Cricket Moments](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/shane-bond-2-th.jpg)
![If 2009 was meant to herald the return to dominance of the little man in rugby league, then to borrow a phrase from our tourism board, “Where the bloody hell are they?”
The game was meant to be faster, meaning we were going to see more players like Matt Bowen carving up tiring forwards.
However, what coaches [...] Steve Kaless: A good big man will always beat a good small man](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/good-big-man-josh-perry-th.jpg)
![When Martyn Williams placed the ball for Cardiff’s seventh and fatal kick in the penalty shoot-out to decide the winner of the Heineken Cup semi-final, the unctuous television commentator rabbited on about how ‘professional’ he was, and unlikely to miskick.
But how tragic it would be for him if he did.
Williams then proceeded to duff-hook his [...] Spiro Zavos: Rugby’s penalty shoot-out is a real winner](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/rugby-penalty-shoot-out-scott-hamilton-th.jpg)
![Wednesday’s decision by the FFA’s Independent Match Review Panel to rescind Iain Fyfe’s red card from Adelaide’s 3-2 loss to Perth was staggering. It hints at an odd softening of the application of the laws by the A-League’s governing body.
Fyfe’s ‘game changing’ sending-off was a contentious moment for many, especially considering Mile Sterjovski’s poor first [...] Ben Somerford: Have the FFA suddenly gone soft?](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/gold-coast-expansion-mensink-bleiberg-buckley-th.jpg)
![It’s been a week since the World Cup draw revealed Australia’s group opponents in South Africa to be Germany, Serbia and Ghana. And with just over six months to go, it is time for the FFA to sit down and organize lead-up matches so the Roos can give the World Cup their best shot.
Indeed, these [...] Ben Somerford: Now we know our World Cup opponents, let’s prepare](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/harry-kewell-th.jpg)
![With the NRL season kicking off this weekend, here are The Roar’s tips for the seven young players who will make a big impact on the game in 2010.
Blake Ferguson (Cronulla): Finally a reason for Sharks fans to smile. Plenty of pace, a great leap and a good finisher (scored some great tries last year). [...] Steve Kaless: The magnificent seven to watch this NRL season](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/blake-ferguson-cronulla-th.jpg)
![So Melbourne Heart wants a piece of Mark Viduka and Josip Skoko? They’ve also expressed passing interest in Michael Petkovic and Ljubo Milicevic.
Can Football Federation Australia check the licence again and make sure “heart” wasn’t a typo? It wasn’t Melbourne Hajduk, was it?
In all seriousness, though, the FFA would be well served getting as [...] Jesse Fink: Melbourne’s new rivalry will revive the A-League](http://www.theroar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/how-important-names-colours-schip-a-league-th.jpg)




Gatesy said | September 24th 2008 @ 9:34am | Report comment
…and you have promotion and relegation, in all divisions!.. I actually suggested three pools, to really get the depth going. All finals to be played in one place, say over a weekend, a couple of double headers, the fourth game being a Baa-Bahs fixture, or some such.
Ian Noble said | September 25th 2008 @ 4:52am | Report comment
Having read the same article my immediate reaction was whether it would lessen the importance of the RWC held every four years as the pinnacle rugby festival with attendances and viewing figures to match. If the World Series happens every twoyears, what happens to the early summer and autumn internationals in the intervening year, surely it should be on a yearly basis excluding RWC year.
As the elite players in the NH play more rugby than players in the SH, there is the problem of player burn out. However, as an idea it has merit particularly as the elite game in the NH is becoming more professional and better prepared, with the elite players are being more carefully managed particularly in England following the recent agreement between club and country which starts this year. I also like the idea of relegation and promotion with more leagues to encourage smaller nations to be more competitive. Relegation will also focus the mind in the top league and make the series competitive and meaningful.
Spiro Zavos said | September 25th 2008 @ 8:19am | Report comment
The additional revenue should allow the NH nations to be the paymasters of the top local players. There is the possibility too that the SH will have more money to pay their better players not to go north. This could force the NH club sides to develop their own stars rather than being them from the SH.
The model wculd be something like football’s European Cup (the Rugby World Series), together with the Football World Cup (the Rugby World Cup)
Nick (KIA) said | September 25th 2008 @ 8:24am | Report comment
I think this is a tremendous idea. Undoubtably would improve the quality of internationals played and reduce ‘development’ sides touring south in the middle of the year.
I’d imagine would increase interest from advertisers and broadcasters and increase rugby revenues globally.
Finally, and perhaps therefore a sticking point for it actually happening, suspect this would see funds diverted from NH club competitions (in terms of adverstising and gates) and towards internationals. And if the winning sides get a chunk of the cash, also likely to see money heading south frequently, which would also reduce attractiveness for the northern unions to support…
Ian in NZ said | September 25th 2008 @ 8:58am | Report comment
..”I also like the idea of relegation and promotion with more leagues to encourage smaller nations to be more competitive”…
That may be easy on paper, but not so easy in commercial clout. Say if Wales missed out on the top 10. They would have to play division 2 teams during the next 2 years along with division 1 teams in Six nations and Nov SH vs NH tours, that a lot more rugby. I am afraid its who has the gold makes the rules. But a division two final in London and the winner getting a couple of million dollars/pounds, now wouldnt that be good for the likes of Samoa or Georgia etc ! Bring it on !
Ian Noble said | September 25th 2008 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
Spiro
Do you mean the European Nations cup, which in many peoples eyes is considered to a more competitive tournament than the World Cup? The qualifying period takes nearly 18 months and is arranged in pools with countries seeded I think according to the FIFA ranking. Transferring a similar format to rugby, in Europe there would be enough countries to arrange at least three pools of four/five teams. There could an Americas pool , Asia pool, Africa pool, and two Oceania/ Pacfic rim pools. The winners of each pool would proceed to the final series.
At the moment the existing top nations would probably rise to the top, although in Europe at least three of the 6N’s wouldn’t make it. What an opportunity for the smaller nations to come through although in the early years they would be swamped by the top nations. It would raise the profile of the game worldwide, increase revenue streams and allow the IRB to invest more capital into the emerging nations.
It would probably mean that there would be less early Summer/Autumn internationals between NH/SH but in some peoples eyes that format is getting a little worn around the edges.