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Much debate has arisen surrounding the Rugby World Cup’s format. Some call for a reduction to 16 sides to shorten the group stage, others want it expanded to 32 sides aligning it with the FIFA World Cup.
The arguments in favour of a reduction make sense – we lose the minnows, and with them the 60-0 score lines, and streamline the competition.
Those who call for an expanded format argue that there must be more opportunities for minnows, to expand the game. Some even suggest a sevens-style tournament with cup, plate, bowl and shield tiers for different teams.
One thing can be agreed on, however – the current format must be changed.
The five-per-pool set-up almost always forces one minnow to go up against two, even three powerhouses of the game. This is not good for the sport, not good for the game in those nations, as people think maybe they were better not off coming.
The very fact that three top-eight sides can be drawn into the same pool demonstrates the huge necessity for an expansion. Six pools of four? Too convoluted to break down into a round of eight or sixteen.
Eight pools of four, however, brings the opportunity to introduce many smaller rugby nations to the world stage. It will pitch a minnow against a powerhouse, but also give the chance for minnows to scrap for the second place in the knockout phase.
Qualifying would take place regionally, and like its football counterpart, disregard previous tournaments in deciding the participants. Every nation would be required to qualify, with potentially ten European spots, five for Oceania, three for Asia, five for the Americas and four for Africa. The remaining five places would be determined by a round of matches between 20 sides, an extended repechage, made up of those on the fringe.
Again, drawing from the football World Cup’s setup, perhaps the draw would be decided based in pots, firstly of seeds, then made up of the regional qualifiers, to evenly distribute teams from around the world.
Of course, as rugby still grows around the world, there will be 50-point margins, maybe more, but with the expansion and spreading of the major teams among the minnows a third-tier team has a chance to make it to the knock-out stage by beating a second tier team, something that currently means nothing.
The excitement surrounding nations qualifying for the World Cup for the first time will be huge, and do a world of good for the exposure of rugby in these smaller nations. It will bring through the likes of Romania, Uruguay, Russia and Georgia – like we’ve seen with Canada and Japan – while also nurturing the immense talent in African nations Kenya, Zimbabwe and Madagascar, and the huge potential of Europe and Asia; Germany, Moldova, Ukraine, Hong Kong and South Korea.
The current 20-nation format can no longer cater to the needs of a growing sport, as the tier-two teams encroach upon the traditional ground of the former British colonies.
As the tier-two teams leave the tag of minnow behind, it seems only right that more nations blood themselves as rugby playing nations, and take up the minnow title until they themselves close the gaps, and the Rugby World Cup can assume its rightful position as a truly global event.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.