Seeing Leeds, the English Super League premiers, defeat NRL counterparts the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the latest edition of the World Club Challenge on Saturday made me wonder, could a similar thing happen in rugby union?
For example you would have the Super Rugby champions (currently the Queensland Reds) play against the European champions (Leinster) in a World Club Challenge match.
While a suitable date would need to be found for such a match, it would be interesting to see the different styles of rugby played by the two teams, especially considering the contrasting styles of rugby between the northern and southern hemisphere teams at international level.
So, could a World Club Challenge in rugby union work?
What do you think would be a suitable time-frame for the game to go ahead?
Also would the RFU in England and the ARU agree to have a match?
What you have to take into account is what is the best – and I mean the best – date to stage a game, especially when you consider the heavy workload for the players.
The Northern Hemisphere take part in the Heineken Premiership, AVIA Premiership, the European Cup, and Six Nations, not to mention Spring Tours hosted and visits to the Southern Hemisphere.
There is also the possibility that a leading player from a major European club gets a injury and is ruled out of the competitions I mentioned above. Plus there’s the problem of the Lions tour.
So, could the RFU (plus its European counterparts) and the ARU (together with its SANZAR partners) find a compromise in order to stage the game in regards to the time-frame-could early November be an ideal time?
In regards to venue, while Twickenham or Cardiff has claims to stage a game, what about Dubai or Hong Kong – could they put their name forward to be the host venue of the first World Club Challenge game in rugby union?’
Johnno
Guest
The euros would like it, but the super 15 sides basically Sanzar wool refuse it as they would be scared if they lose, it will further undermines super 15 credibly at a time, when super 15 teams are losing players to europe and japan. ANd they would not want to give super 15 players a taste of euro rugby for fear they would educate players not familiar with euro rugby. A aviva premiership match from memory or a HEK cup match was scheduled for cape town, but it got banned as the south africa teams did not want to give exposure to european club rugby. So a bit gutless there in my opinion , i can;t see it happening for the reasons i have given. But in reality would be good, don't think it will happen, also scheduling would be an issue, hence the need for a global rugby calandar.
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Heineken cup is not a knockout cup. It has 6 pool matches then quarters. You don't get knocked out if you lose a pool match. Sorry to be pedantic.
mace 22
Guest
No dumb idea.
The Bush
Roar Guru
"Also would the RFU in England and the ARU agree to have a match?" Why would the RFU be involved? Leinster is an Irish team under the control of the IRFU. "The Northern Hemisphere take part in the Heineken Premiership, AVIA Premiership, the European Cup, and Six Nations, not to mention Spring Tours hosted and visits to the Southern Hemisphere." Heineken Cup is a knockout cup, not a premiership. Sorry to be pedantic, again. Really the only time it'd be in anyway feasible would be approximately October/November. SupeRugby and the Rugby Championship would be finished so our players are available and the Euro season is only just starting and breaks in November for internationals. I guess it could act as a sort of "opening" to the Internationals that are held in Europe every November. Having said all that, the Calendar is so congested. The Kiwis and Saffas need their players at home to finish their domestic competitions right up to November. Furthermore, it would take players away from the national set-up a week before a Test Match. Finally, if it was held anywhere other than Europe, that would be a hell of a lot of extra travel for just one game (by both teams). They could make it work, it's just whether all of the parties see enough financial gain out of it. One solution, I guess, could be to compensate the national Unions that would lose their Test players for it (unless they could magically find an accomodating window).
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
On paper, great idea. It was on the cards in the 1990's and i remember the Blues coming to France to hammer the then European champs Brive. Don't think there is real desire to do this again though. Bit meaningless maybe as there is no history nor tradition behind it. Plus the North plays club rugby from August to end of May and already struggles to free their internationals for tours, 6 nations etc...