The concept of a southern hemisphere equivalent to the British and Irish Lions is nothing new.
When Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief Bill Pulver waxed lyrical about the idea earlier this week he was re-hashing thinking that has been around since the early days of the SANZAR alliance.
The idea was mooted in the early 2000s by the late South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) president, Dr Louis Luyt and has come up for discussion in southern hemisphere rugby circles on regular occasions over the years.
When I joined SANZAR in the communications and marketing role in 2011, I suggested the concept as a possible new opportunity for the organisation. Perhaps it still is, now it is back on the discussion table.
However, as great as the idea may be, and as simple as it might seem to create and implement, there are many things that will need to be considered if it is to see the light of day.
Union support and agreement
It goes without saying the concept would have to be approved by the three SANZAR Unions and the game’s pedestrian global administration, the IRB.
Watering it down in any way or form will make it a pointless exercise. Argentina should be included.
No half measures
It has to be done properly. It cannot take the form of a one-off encounter in the middle of the Super Rugby season, as suggested by the ARU boss, or at the end of the international season. It cannot exclude any of the three SANZAR countries, or Argentina.
It has to be akin to a Lions tour, with multiple Tests and midweek games, and it has to be played in the northern hemisphere.
Timing is crucial
The appropriate year and time of year have to be considered. It could not take place in a World Cup year or Lions tour year, so it would have to be in one of the in-between years as Pulver pointed out.
It would have to take place at the end of the year at a similar time to when the southern hemisphere teams traditionally tour Europe. There is no way it could take place during the Super Rugby season.
Player welfare concerns
The concept will only work if those who have player welfare at heart are satisfied it will mean less rugby for some players – at least in every fourth season.
No doubt every player will dream of being involved, as Lions players do, and the reality is the top players would be preferred. Nevertheless, it will give other players a chance to rest and recover.
Commercialisation and administration
Obviously the concept, if executed properly, will have huge commercial value in terms of broadcast rights, sponsorship and an array of other items.
But there would be multiple coffers to fill. How will this revenue be managed and shared and how will the players be compensated?
Would this be the remit of SANZAR or would there be a committee similar to what the Lions have? Also, who will manage and coach the combined team?
Team identity
What will the team be called? What will its emblem be? What will its playing kit look like?
These are all vexing questions that will be raised and debated. Some may take more than most think to be answered too. Rugby boardrooms can be slow moving places at times. It does, however, open up a great opportunity to involve the game’s biggest stakeholders – the fans – in some of the decision-making.
There are many more issues that would require discussion but it certainly is an exciting prospect that could add great value to the global game.
Imagine…
The Southern Warriors – comprising players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina – tour the northern hemisphere every fourth year in the year after the Rugby World Cup.
The timing is such that the tour would take place in the year before the next Lions tour and will be able to give a pretty accurate measure of the strengths between south and north.
The tour would take place in November and December. Essentially, a revised IRB tours schedule would see the four southern hemisphere teams touring individually over three seasons, as they do presently, and then collectively in the fourth, which would allow some rest time for a sizeable group of players.
The Warriors would play Tests on consecutive weekends against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England, with a midweek game in each of these countries in between.
The tour would culminate with a fifth Test, played at Wembley, between the Warriors and what is essentially a shadow Lions combination selected from the four Home Unions.
Alternatively, the opposition could be a composite team drawn from the Six Nations.
Either way, it would be a game that features most of the world’s top players. That’s mouth-watering for any rugby fan, administrator, TV executive, sponsor or journalist.
Television rights would come at a premium and event and team sponsors and a range of other suppliers would queue up to be involved. A nine-match tour, over six weeks, would provide ample time to create leveraging value for the commercial partners too.
Could it happen?
Or will it remain a pipe dream that is dusted off and kicked around when a singular event – such as the Lions tour – shows what might be possible with some lateral thinking.
enzopitek
Guest
this team have already a past ... remember 1986 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Unions_rugby_union_team http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rest_of_the_World_XV
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
What would never happen but would actually be fun to think about (and would highlight rugby as a sport) would be a series consisting of two "world 15" teams of no fixed geographic origin - just like in the playground at school everyone lines up and gets picked one at a time creating two barbarian-like teams. I would pay to see that.
You think All Black vs Springbok matches are still regarded as the ultimate showdown by the world?
Emric
Guest
When the All Blacks take on the Springboks the rugby world will hold its breath.
Geez, didn't realise it was that bad.
AdamS
Roar Guru
Its a useless idea. For the most part, the home unions struggle to beat any single SANZAR side. How would they hope to cope with a presumably better combined side? Even, as we have seen, the Lions struggle to beat any SANZAR side. Pointless flog fest. Or alternately, should they lose, it would devalue the whole concept.
Rassie
Roar Rookie
The Lions toured to New Zealand in 1971 and won the series. The success of the 1972 England team to SA, the 1973 England team to New Zealand as well as the 1971 Lions series win in New Zealand left clear signals that British rugby was on a high
Daz
Guest
And there's the rub. Queenslanders hate NSW when it comes to State of Origin. But when the Kangaroos tour, as a nation we can get behind them and put aside petty state jealousies and rivalries, because at the end of the day we are one country. The British and Irish Lions, with the exception of Ireland, who I don't blame for not wanting to belong, still come from one country. It would be a fantastic concept and I'd love it to happen but I just can't see two, three or four independent sovereign nations doing the same.
Mysonsaremaggots
Roar Rookie
Better idea is just to have one of the SANZAR nation to do a 6 week tour of the home nations every 4 years, imagine going on a six week tour watching the All blacks play mid week Matches plus all home Nations and finished off by playing the lions at Wembley stadium, Now thats a promoters dream. Then four years later Australia does the same, then South Africa
Ra
Guest
Yeah its a great spectacle seeing that sea of red in the stands and the amazing singing - they let us know the British are comin' and they do well for our economy too - long may they tour - Deano go coach them next bro !
Ra
Guest
Yes they did Snobby, they had centuries of stiff-upper-lip history behind them to build on i.e.the power of the mighty British Empire. For 400 years the most powerful and dominant military and economic power in the world. If it wasn't for two world wars in the 20th Century, Britain could probably still be the lead economic power base in the world. Despite that it still weilds plenty of power. Not a bad legacy to hang a mere rugby team on eh.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
A SANZAR or ANZAC team wouldn't need to bring fans with them. There are literally hundreds of thousands of Aussie/Kiwi/Saffer expats living in the UK that would form the likely backbone of thew supporter base. All would enjoy watching the home nations being ground into the turf by such a side.
The Bush
Roar Guru
A whole tour wouldn't work; 1. We aren't four countries united by history and tradition as the Lions are. Putting aside their history as a team, they also used to be one country! No offence to our South African and Argentian brothers, but other than an ANZAC side as a novelty, I can't see what passion would be enticed by a "Souther Hemisphere" side 2. Who's paying our bills? The ARU is broke and couldn't afford to not tour in a World Cup year - will there be enought profit to cover everyone - remember European stadiums already fill out for the Wallabies/All Blacks/Springboks - what are they gonna do, build bigger stadiums? 3. We are already the best. As said above, the Lions are interesting because they're a challenge. A SANZAR team would grind Scotland into the ground by 50+
Bayxxx
Guest
Too many travelling Sanzar fans would kill the atmosphere #singing
MAJB
Guest
Reminds me of the old Southern Hemisphere V Northern Hemisphere concept. Would an incredible spectacle if it could be achieved. How you get around the various Union’s rivalries would solve the problem. The Barbarians work. Why not this?
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think my poo doesn't smell so I will follow established rounding principles and call that closer to 50-30-20! Ps neither of us can count I actually put 9 kiwis in my starting side so that is 60%! Then again I only have 12 in the 23 so only just Above 50 over all.
Anthony Mackaiser
Guest
Remember the Lions were created in the amateur era where heritage was most important. The driver in the pro era is money so a similar concept in the South would have to make commercial sense above all else. The Lions today are driven by the same thinking where TV rights and replica kit are more important than team composition. That us why ten Welsh players will start the final test.
Emric
Guest
The Concept could work if it was done properly. There are a ton of kiwis, Saffas and Aussies living in the UK who would go to a combined game, there are a ton of kiwis, Aussies and Saffas who would travel to see such a game but it would have to be done properly as the article points out a quick fly in fly out would not work it would have to be pick a country e.g. France and then tour France over 6 weeks - play week games against its best pro teams and 3 matches against its top team. The UK is always different but once again you would target, Wales, Scotland, England or Ireland rather then targeting a group or all of the above a singe country playing the best they have. This way the 3 test match is always in place. As for the idea that such a team would be all conquering. One of the biggest problems with the lions and for the lions management is managing those internal divisions within the team. You will find the same sort of issues with a SANZAR based team. Will Dan Carter and Will Genia form a formidable pair on paper it looks good but I've seen a lot of combinations which looked good on paper not come off on the field.
Mitcher
Guest
Where do I buy my SANZAR merch? Yay!!!
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Really. Its an 8-4-3 split in your starting 15. 54% AB, 26% Aus, 20% SA. Very close to a 60-20-20