If there’s one thing the first weekend of the Rugby World Cup has shown us, it’s that the bridge between the top eight teams and the rest of the world is closing.
Rewind just over four years ago, before France ’07 and there were calls to reduce the number of teams for future World Cups back to 16.
During that tournament, teams like Georgia, Tonga, the USA and Fiji reminded us that there are rugby-playing countries outside of the ‘Six Nations’ and Tri Nations competitions and such a move would be a backwards step.
Seven games into this tournament, the biggest blowout has been 31 points.
Romania, the USA and Argentina all got close to their much more fancied rivals and Japan, Namibia and Italy, all pushed France, Fiji and Australia respectively.
It’s made for an exciting beginning to the game’s showpiece event and ensures that rugby’s international future looks as bright as ever.
The responsibility of the IRB and their nations now is to ensure that this promising trend continues and future World Cups are tighter contests as the game continues to grow around the world.
These positive results are a side-effect of the game’s professional development with the rise of the domestic leagues in the ‘Six Nations’ and Tri Nations’ countries that allow opportunities for players from other countries to make rugby their full-time job.
Now more needs to be done to raise the profile of rugby globally and provide more opportunities for the full squads from the countries outside the top 10 to come together and compete against the developed rugby nations.
The first step that needs to be taken to accommodate this is to make the Tri Nations and Six Nations bi-annual events in even years.
This year’s Tri Nations was a joke, with the All Blacks and South Africa using B teams at different stages of the tournament. It takes away from what should be one of the benchmark regional rugby competitions.
Plain and simply these competitions shouldn’t run in World Cup years.
It also takes away some of the mystery when these teams meet in the tournament.
There should be a five-week window prior to the Cup for teams to play in friendlies to trial players and finish off their preparations.
It’s been acknowledged that the Tri Nations has become bland in recent years and the response has been to add Argentina to the tournament.
This isn’t the answer.
Argentina have no doubt come along in leaps and bounds, but there is no way they can compete with the top three nations in the world.
People point to Italy’s inclusion into the Six Nations but the Tri Nations doesn’t have a Wales or a Scotland that Argentina can compete with.
I’ll admit they are good enough to pull off the rare upset at home, but overall, having a new whipping boy in the Tri Nations does nothing for the competition and nothing for the game’s development in Argentina.
So to preserve some prestige and break the repetitive rugby calendar, the Tri Nations and Six Nations should go bi-annual.
What should happen in the odd, non World Cup years is a Hemisphere Cup in both the North and South.
To keep things interesting between World Cups in soccer at the international level, they have their continental tournaments.
To mix things up and include more countries apart from the big ten, we should use a similar model.
Here, in the south, we can have two groups of four involving the Tri Nations teams, the three island nations and a Namibia or Uruguay. The groups play each other once followed by the semi-finals and final.
Up north, they have enough countries for a competitive tournament of sixteen involving four groups of four. Apart from the Six Nations’ heavyweights, there are a number of European countries that are coming on strongly such as Georgia, Russia, Romania, Portugal and Spain.
The sleeping giants of the US, Canada and Japan can also be included. This makes fourteen teams and if such a tournament was to run tomorrow and you were to go off current rankings, Belgium and Morocco would make up the numbers.
After the group stage, the top two from each group advance to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
The countries outside of the Six and Tri Nations tournaments have done enough to show the world that they deserve to be able to call upon their strongest squads and be involved in top-class world rugby outside of the World Cup.
It is certainly the case in the southern hemisphere that our regional format running year-in-year-out is becoming dreary to the fans.
Shining the spotlight on these developing rugby nations more than just every four years is only going to help them continue their charge towards the rugby-haves.
Their top players get more time together and they get the chance to have a crack at the big boys that they otherwise wouldn’t get.
Although chances are they won’t win it in the short term, fans in these countries would get exposed to another big tournament that their country is involved.
This can only help popularity of the sport and continue grassroots development in these places.
It’s a big call to make, especially for the old boys club that run the game, but these administrators need to broaden rugby’s horizons.
The World Cup is showing us that the rest of the world is outgrowing the horizons that these administrators have set for them.
It’s time to take another step and start providing the countries outside of the traditional powerhouses the opportunities that they deserve.
james linz
Guest
if its time to take Rugby global, its time to start actually broadcasting it on FTV. channel 9 is a disgrace.
Johnno
Guest
You will see 32 team RWC by 2031 i am very confident of that ROB9 fingers crossed rugby develops enough mate in the future.
Johnno
Guest
Rob9 yes i am the same Johnno mate lol, for sure i love rugby and like you, you have a big love and enthusiasm for the game. I hope rugby get bigger and bigger rob9 . I think it will to rob9 just get bigger and bigger, for multiple reasons Rob9. By 2031 -2035, teams like USA,CANADA,JAPAN will be challenging. and the eurp teams will to the big ones like Russia,Ukraine,germany,and italy will get dtornger to, and the eastern euro teams like Georgia,romania,poland. South america to Brazil argentina, chile,urguay lot sof potetnial. I think your 4 year model is sensible to. my only issue is if you have NH/SH cups, like in the soccer model where they have continent cups 1 every 2 years and a world cup. i just think it makes the tri nations meaningless , which is not a bad thing if it is scrapped. i hope british and irish lions tours like the ASHES in cricket survives. I am also of the big belief that maybe rugby should just move like soccer into there natural contents and incorporate the Australisaia into the ASIAN conference. Which happens now with soccer. Astralia/NZ is not part of africa and and south America and vice versa, and our comps club and tri antions/ or SH models should reflect that. Super 15 is a logistical nightmare and expensive for multiple reasons ROB9. No other regular club comp in world operates on so many crazy time zones and crossover of continents. It is ridiculous comp if you ask me and now bordering boring and meaningless outside of the grand final which is fun. So in other words over the next 20 years eliminate Argentina and South Africa from our domestic schedule for internationals, and just play them in world cups, like in soccer. let them develop in like an animal in there natural environment not in abnormal environment like a zoo. Coz right now i think the super 15 is producing abnormal development for rugby in AUST,NZ and south africa,. Killing grass roots rugby i think and undermining local comps. Save all the cross over continent matches for the world cup when the world unites in soccer for one big huge party and get together ROB9. Let the argues and south africa develop in there natural time zone and continent, same with USA, and canada, but USA has more in common with us as they are in pacific, so maybe can come into ASIA/Pacific USA has big size ROb9 they will be huge Rob9, i can forsee in 20-25 years USA having a strong domestic comp, big money.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Almost isn't a win. For every almost there are 7 or 8 defeats. Once again, I do see the odd victory for Argentina in an expanded four nations, but to suggest they can finish anything above fourth let alone win the damn thing is naive. At least in the short to mid term. I think we're on the same page there with club commitments too. However I don't believe Japan's the answer either. The best thing about the Tri Nations is that on any given year you can throw a blanket over the 3. You're going to need a very big blanket when Argentina come in and basically a continent if it were Japan. Japan even at home, for the next 10 years at least will not get a win over a Tri Nations country. You'll see just how big that gap is when they take on the ABs at the cup. As I've said in the article and comment below/above, I suggest we move towards that soccer model where we have our world cups which are going from strength to strength and break those up with hemisphere cups (same as soccers continental cups) in the odd years between world cups. 80% of teams going in with a realistic hope of winnning the is something we should strive towards.
Rob9
Roar Guru
If this is the same Johnno as above, here here to everything you said! I long for the day we can go to 32 with 8 groups of 4! Love your enthusiam! Agreed that with their current standing and the resources that the USA, Canada, Japan have, they will find themselves amongst the big boys by around 2035. The USA in particular. The biggest sporting market in the globe, they have a hunger for contact sport involving an oval shaped ball. The sports growing in the college system which is an ideal launching platform for the sport and they literally have millions of athletes who have the size, speed and body shapes to cover all positions. Just need to develop the coaches who can develop the skills. Not far behind those three will be Russia, Spain, Portugal and down the track we'll crack Europes biggest sporting market Germany. With regards to your next comment I'm not suggesting running these sort of North and South Hemisphere Cups annually. Part of the idea of the article is to break the boring, repetitive annual rugby calendar that currently exists. I'm saying only in between World Cups do we run these sort of tournament (so every 4 years). Make Tri and Six Nations bi-annually in even years to maintain the excitement of those tournament and avoid the farce that occurs with the Tri Nations in world cup years. So the a four yearly cycle could look like this: 11' World Cup, 12' Tri/Six Nations, 13' North/South Hemisphere Cups, 14' Tri/Six Nations then 15' World Cup. With Tri Nations, totally agree about the 2 games against each team home and away. 3 games is a bit too much. The negative of this years Tri Nations was the boks and ABs throwing up B teams at different stages of the tournament to reduce player fatigue before the cup.
Johnno
Guest
History shows ROB 9 Argentina can beat Australia in argentina. And they almost beat NZ about 10 years ago but there goal kicker had a shocker, and same with south africa they almost beat. And now Argies are getting better so will be even more tough. But reason why Rob9 why i think 4 nations will fail to is simple. Argie players majority play pro comps in EURO. And rugby is not on global same calendar yet. And i think it would be naive to think big eruo clubs, will give up key players often for end of season tours, or during mid season. And players to won't be motivated either , end of season or mid season they will be either wanting to recover or focused on club.If argentina got pro comp then maybe one day but that will take time, and like soccer bug money is in euro until south american economies develop more. I don't think super 15 is the answer either for argetina or south american rugby to develop either. They should develop local comp. I want a southern hemphiephere style champions league title running in congestion with local comps, irk they do in europe. 4 nations like northern hemphisphere tours when euros come here in there off season will be a disaster because i just can't see argentina guarenting there full strength squad for the 4nations. You watch next year how many players will pull out due to unexpected injuries or simply put club 1st and country 2nd. I think we need to integrate japan maybe into 4nations as there comp is run more or less with our calendar, and time zone wise much closer. Japan will not be easy any more to get a win in Tokyo i don't think, will be tough win to get away. I think rugby is heading to the soccer model more and more where world cup, and continent title, and also a lions tour takes 1st value for internationals, but one of tests, tri nations, old style 3 test tours like australia v wales next year will be a thing of the past. But we will still go to euro end of year tour coz we need the money more from tv rights Rob9. Big changes ahead for world rugby in the next 20 years RWC 2031 will be like soccer world cup now where 80% of the teams will back themselves to win the title.
Rob9
Roar Guru
If you take a look in the history books Lorry, they would say otherwise. The Argies have had a handful of victories over AUS but are yet to register one over either the boks or ABs. As I said they are a good enough team to force the odd 'upset' at home but quite simply at the moment they aren't on the same level. To add to their woes there's a question mark as to whether they will be able to get a full strength (European based players) squad for games. The main issue is their depth which is a product of their Union holding onto Rugby's old amatuer values and failing to establish a professional league on their own shores. I've heard this is now in the pipelines and when this happens the cream of the crop will still head for the big bucks in Europe but at least the guys underneath them will be fulltime professionals. The whole purpose of the article is to look at how we can involve nations outside the 9 that are currently in the two big international competitions. The idea of a Hemisphere Cup pulls in Argentina every four years along with other promising Rugby nations such as those in the pacific. I suggest bumping the Tri Nations (and Six Nations) to just even years to break the repetitive grip it currently holds on the Southern Hemisphere calendar and restore some of the interest in the tournament. I think in those even years the Argies will be better served in an expanded Pacific tournament to include the 3 Pac islands, along with the 3 sleeping giants of the US, Canada and Japan. Fiji and Samoa (at full strength) will provide them with a strong contest and Argentina being involved such a tournament provides a benchmark to aim up to for the US, Canada and Japan who I believe will find themselves amongst the big guns of world rugby in the future. So I'm not saying cut Argentina free all together, far from it. I'm a huge fan of Pumas rugby and love seeing them do well. I'm just after a model that looks after them and all the other up and comers of world rugby.
Johnno
Guest
I think the key wor dehire is overkill, and baby steps. If you have massive SH championship every year not club comp, i meant internationals you don't want it to become boring. Tri nations was good this year as it went back to play each other twice so 4 matches each max good number. I would not increase it by any more than 2 max no more than 6 4 or 5 would be ideal. My idea as the SHemphisephere covers multiple continents unlike europe is have a promotion and relegation southern hepmhshere title. So say teams to start(Aus,ARG,NZ,SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN,FIJI), or maybe have 6 matches so each team get 3 home and away but i prefer 5 like 6 nations does, and alternate home and away advantage each year, 5 keeps it more excting and tense , and harsher penalty if you lose match. Then say promotion relegation form ASIA,AFRICA, AUstralisia. SO if in 1st year japan get knocked out and winner of PACIFIC NATONS CUP GOES UP EG usa,samoa for example
jason8
Guest
yup i think the Argies will surprise us all every now and again.... but i agree its not the answer to the tri-nations doldrums, i like the options served up in the article tho - a North/South game would be HUGE !!
Johnno
Guest
Rugby union in the next 20 years will bet bigger and bigger. By 2027 or 2031 i expect to see teasm like USA, and russia, and canada, challenge for the title. USA and russia big coutnries. If they can get the college program going strong in USA over the next 20 years , look out world . lots of depth there of talent. Look at what abeam like Georgia has done in 12 years think what Canada ,USA, and russia could do with there populations and money. Samoa and tonga , fiji, natural rugby union players genetically will continue to develop thanks to Australia, NZ, and euro leagues will be strong. England and france will get stronger to. Teams like brazil,argentina, mexico, holland, denmark norway,sweden germany,portugal,spain,Nigeria,kenya,uganda,croatia,polandserbia,romania,Ukraine(big oppurtunies in ukraine and eastern europe), china,india, south korea, sir lanka. 2031 RWC will be absolutely amazing like soccer world cup i think where most teams can win it now. Also basketball rest of world does not have depth of USA but the gap has closed and plenty of NBA experience there. And rugby via 7sevens to is helping itself. ANd full time professionalism Gap is closing between top nations and minnows.
Lorry
Guest
totally disagree... Argentina will win, and will win well in Buenos Aires against the top 3 teams.
knockon
Guest
my understanding is that teams previously involved in Churchill cup will now be incorporated into rugby's global calendar.
Siva Samoa
Roar Pro
Good artical Rob. Its been the best world cup so far for me with the minnows playing well and there have been some great games so far and Im sure theres more to come. Hopefully this world cup will see a couple of local players from Russia, Romania, Tonga, Namibia, USA, Georgia and Canada offer professional contracts in France, UK & Ireland, Italy and Sanza.