Rugby’s major nations have endorsed a 20-team format for the sport’s 2015 World Cup and have offered to play midweek matches to ensure the lower-ranked teams have more rest time.
Representatives of Tier One nations met Monday to discuss the format and commercial model for the next World Cup, which will be held in England, broaching issues which recently saw a New Zealand-led threat to boycott the tournament.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew has said the All Blacks could consider skipping the 2015 event unless the International Rugby Board addresses concerns around the tournament’s effects on Test match revenues and sponsorships for member unions. Australia supported New Zealand’s stand.
Lower-ranked nations competing at the World Cup have also attacked a schedule which has given some of them as little as four days between games, while the top tier countries enjoyed longer breaks.
The International Rugby Board said in a statement Monday that during “a constructive forum” Tier One unions had “unanimously recommended retaining the current format of 20 teams split across four pools.”
“Delegates also reaffirmed their support of the IRB’s planned review of the Rugby World Cup match schedule to deliver the best possible balance of rest days for all teams.”
The IRB said Tier One unions had agreed to play midweek matches during the 2015 World Cup to ensure smaller nations receive a fairer spread of game.
“While the meeting was not a decision-making forum, key recommendations will be put forward to the IRB executive committee or the IRB Council for consideration,” the IRB statement said.
A review of the format and match schedule of the World Cup is undertaken after every tournament.
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