There have only been 27 Grand Slam tours of the UK and Ireland since the first in 1905-06, the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks each embarking on nine of the tours in their respective histories.
But capturing a Slam by beating England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales on the one tour hasn’t been easy; of those 27 attempts, only nine have been successful: the Springboks in 1912-13, 1931-32, 1951-52, and 1960-61, the All Blacks in 1978, 2005, 2006, and 2010, and the Wallabies’ sole Slam in 1984.
Yet in the eight Rugby World Cups since 1987, the All Blacks have won three, the Wallabies and Springboks two each, leaving England as the sole northern hemisphere World Champions. England won in 2003.
The one sure way to improve northern hemisphere rugby is to compete against the big four from the south more often. There’s no better way than setting aside the November-December windows to do just that as the perfect preparation for the annual Six Nations tournament in February-March.
The 2017 quadruple Slam tours and beyond would look like this.
November 6
Wallabies v Wales at Millennium
All Blacks v England at Twickenham
Springboks v France at Stade de France
Argentina v Scotland at Murrayfield
Ireland and Italy play a selection of Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, USA, Canada, and Japan sponsored in full by World Rugby from the bottomless pit of cash banked from Rugby World Cups.
November 13
Wallabies v Scotland at Murrayfield
All Blacks v Ireland at Aviva
Springboks v Wales at Millennium
Argentina v England at Twickenham
France and Italy against the Pacific Island teams, Japan, USA, or Canada as above.
November 20
Wallabies v France at Stade de France
All Blacks v Wales at Millennium
Springboks v Scotland at Murrayfield
Argentina v Ireland at Aviva
England and Italy as above.
November 27
Wallabies v Ireland at Aviva
All Blacks v Scotland at Murrayfield
Springboks v England at Twickenham
Argentina v France at Millennium
.
Wales and Italy as above.
December 4
Wallabies v England at Twickenham
All Blacks v France at Stade de France
Springboks v Ireland at Aviva
Argentina v Wales at Millennium
Scotland and Italy as above.
I have dropped Italy to lesser internationals until they learn how to play rugby properly and legally, and stop being a law unto themselves.
It’s a nonsense that Italy is in the Six Nations. They have won only 12 of their 85 games since being promoted in 2000, scoring 1239 points, but giving up 2792 for a record deficit of 1553.
Those stats speak for themselves.
But the main schedule featuring the Wallabies, All Blacks, Springboks, and Pumas over a five-week period will be a broadcaster’s delight.
Stagger the kickoffs and four quality internationals could be seen live right around the world, let alone the full house signs up outside the grounds.
That’s what rugby is all about, only World Rugby are too blinkered to see a golden opportunity going begging.
Just do it.
Phill L
Guest
Bakkies Your left in the old amateur days old bean. Today is about professionalism , sponsorship dollars and thats where the southern Hemisphere is going to create a better product and help all SAMZAAR nations , we want more of the pie , if they don't like it lets not play there and develop our own market and other markets. Apparently SANZAAR has given viewership figures for Super rugby are 50 mill. Its business mate not personal
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well why do NH teams bother then? Because there's something in it for them. And I'd imagine coming here for nothing, then paying some of the gate when we go North is still a benefit to them. You seem to get so caught up in black and white Bakkies without what that black and white is there for. Is it better to stand your ground on an issue like this and lose out than it is to come to agreement that works out better for you than if you both walk away?
Bakkies
Guest
Rugby has more tournaments and meaningful domestic competitions. County and Shield cricket was more meaningful when the international players played more matches in those comps. Now states and counties are struggling to make ends meet due to the demands of hosting international matches and not having more access to their best players. Look at Durham's financial relegation and Hampshire is heading the same way. Yorkshire and Lancashire are hardly buoyant. I suspect Glamorgan are in the same boat. Most of the financial strain is due to the demands of hosting international matches which include expensive ground refurbishments. Throw on top of that not having access to their best players which affects attendances. In Rugby not having access to the best players locally has hugely affected Currie Cup and NPC crowds (in terms of NZ particularly in the cities). This has led to smaller unions struggling to compete financially. Half the Currie Cup unions are broke and their competition has been reduced to a lower priority by their national union. I don't want other competitions to head in that direction by cutting the opportunities to see their best players play locally and just focus on internationals where a certain part of the world are watching them at unsociable hours.
Bakkies
Guest
It's not their gate and they aren't the host. The away team gets expenses covered by their host (unless that has changed). European teams particularly the Lions don't get money when they travel so why should the ARU and the NZRU expect the same in return.... If away teams threaten to charge exorbitant appearance fees like the NZRU are doing teams will refuse to host them. Rugby is not like Golf or Tennis where individuals pull out of events due to not being able to gouge enough money.
Bakkies
Guest
Tyrone agreed and since when did 'it's a nonsense' become acceptable to use in the English language especially by people who are paid to write?
Bakkies
Guest
Then a match against the French Barbarians
Bakkies
Guest
I mean small venues. The ARU go cap in hand to the IRB when Australia isn't able to host the June tests. The Sanzaar nations are spending too many months a year playing test Rugby. The Wallabies are basically together from July to December playing just test matches. That is overkill. It was great when the ABs were able to play in the NPC. The 2000 NPC in front of good crowds in the cities with Lomu, Cullen, Umaga, Mehrtens and co playing unlike now was top Rugby
Bakkies
Guest
three test series at the same stadium isn't a good idea. Might work for France but they don't have a national Rugby stadium. They have one in the pipeline but Laporte is against it which is ridiculous as the Stade de France is a money pit.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yep, they've only ever lost two...34/35 and 53/54.
tyrone
Guest
the same planet where we believe we are part of a contest against the All Blacks because we are within a try with half an hour to go.
The Saint
Roar Guru
Yes Taylorman. The ABs have never at lost to Scotland nor Ireland. So, David's scenario is not possible...
redbull
Guest
Why not just dp the opposite of the NH Summer tours in June? AUS, RSA, NZL and ARG could each do a 3-match tour one of the top four nations as determined by the previous 6 nations, but not the same team as was in each country in June as happened with AUS and WAL one year. With a lesser travel schedule some midweek games could be included and some good development could happen.
Don
Roar Rookie
3 in June, 6 RC tests plus a 3rd Bledisloe, 5 Spring Tour tests = 15 test matches this year.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
David, You've been around a while, do you have any background on this? England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland all come south for series' of three test matches. Why don't we have three test series in return when we go north. Surely these would create greater interest for the Home Nations and for us than the one off tests we currently get?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes and they've certainly never lost three from four on any northern tour.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Because without an away team there's no match.., Why should an away team play in a test if they get no income?
Ruaridh
Guest
"Besides, for the All Blacks, Wallabies, Boks, and Pumas, having bashed each other in the Bledisloe and/or Rugby Championship, the thought of a Grand Slam at years end against far lesser opposition would be an excellent Christmas present." Far lesser opposition? Are you drunk or just on a wind up?
The Saint
Roar Guru
Get your facts right David. ABs won all four tests in 1978...a Grand Slam. They lost one tour game - Munster.
Tony H
Roar Pro
David I love the concept. I think it's fantastic. I don't understand why so many people think that we don't have enough Test Rugby. For mine, all of the comparisons to international Cricket miss the mark. Cricket has three formats that compete for scheduling and rest periods for players mean that often times, the best players aren't playing, even if they could be available. I think that an annual festival of Christmas rugby as you've suggested is perfect. All day test cricket, evening Big Bash and A-League, followed by late night Rugby. I'm in... It might cost me a marriage, but a Foxtel subscription is cheaper than a wife anyway!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Some of them have been because one side never fronted. Scotland in 24, Iteland had an outbreak in 67 so it was called off. As both sides won every match on those tours safe to assume they would have won though Scotland were a good side in 24.