Andrew Forrest’s Rapid Rugby initiative has hit a small road bump, with the “tight time frame and intricacies of a World Cup year” forcing them to move their debut season back to 2020.
The breakaway competition has long promised to revolutionise the way rugby is played and watched, with “innovative” new rules and “spectacular” off-field entertainment being promised by Forrest.
But fans will have to wait another year to see the eight-team competition in action, after Global Rapid Rugby today revealed the competition had been postponed.
The competition will, however, be staging a ‘Showcase Series’ in 2019, with an unspecified number of fixtures demonstrating the new breed of rugby to be played in Australasia, Asia and the Pacific Islands on dates yet to be announced.
“In 2019, fans are going to get a real feel for how the entertainment experience we pioneered in Australia last year will evolve throughout the Asia Pacific,” Forrest said in a press release.
While Global Rapid Rugby declined to specify exactly why the World Cup year caused the competition bad been pushed back, the lack of a strong broadcasting arrangement has been speculated as the reasoning.
“[The Showcase Series] will form a runway for the launch of an even bigger investment in 2020, once strong broadcasting arrangements are in place,” Forrest said.
“Making Rapid Rugby a reality has required a considerable amount of courage and determination. That determination, and our vision, has not changed. The strategy required to realise it requires a strong foundation,” he added.
Head of rugby Matt Hodgson remained bullish on the tournament’s prospects, insisting they had players and teams in place for 2019.
“Rapid Rugby is going to be huge, and the Showcase Series will prove it,” he said.
“Like me, the players and teams were ready to go but I am confident the 2019 series will be a great demonstration of what a full season of increased ball-in-play time, attacking, aggressive, high scoring rugby will look like,” he added.
Spurned into action by the controversial removal of the Western Force from Super Rugby in 2017, the Global Rapid Rugby group did receive approval from World Rugby to stage an ‘elite-level competition’ last year.
But, for now, it’ll be another year before this dream is fully realised.
Machiavelli
Guest
It was always going to be very ambitious to get the GRR up this year....World Cup year meant marquee players tied up, broadcasters had their plates full etc. The year after a World Cup and everything starts to become easier....makes perfect sense to me. Twiggy doesn't like failing, so I will back Twiggy to make this happen. More time also means they will be more organized. Personally I believe they should try and get a team out of Shanghai or Beijing....try and tap into the Chinese market....of course the Chinese government may not like that. Go Twiggy!
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Well this does not give any confidence that it will actually go ahead, waiting to a month before first game smacks of not really being organised (god help the screaming we would of heard if the ARU canned a new comp a month out). I hope I am wrong and things will go ahead, but I doubt it!
Ex force fan
Guest
Forrest clearly doesn't want to do this tournament on his own and flagged it from the beginning. It is clear that it will take a bit longer to get some teams and the broadcasters inboard and this is the right move, although it can be seen as a backward step to ensure that others have enough time to get onboard.
Ex force fan
Guest
Maybe TWAS could be right, however I expect a launch during a WC year would have been much tougher than riding on the back of the 2019 RWC in Asia when you launch in 2020. The 6 teams could have been only 4 now up to 10 teams can join that will make the competition bigger and more marketableand another year to test the new rules could not be bad. With nothing else to look forward to in 2019 in Perth, Singapore, Hong Kong and Fiji the showcase games will again be very popular. Getting a US, Japanese and maybe a Kiwi and West Sydney teams will surely make it a bigger and better competition and that is what Twiggy meant TWAS.
Ex force fan
Guest
I hate the England but I expect you are correct, England rates much higher than any of the Aussie Super teams or the Wallabies.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah but Forrest could can the whole thing and you’d try and tell us it was a positive.
ForceFan
Roar Rookie
The aim was always to have an initial 8 team tournament. It was obviously unfolding as only 6 teams in the RWC year. I suggest that the comments stand up very well in that light.
andrewM
Roar Rookie
You're a gas Rugger, Force fans will sing sing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot..' way before they ever support the Rebels.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Well if everything is rosy why doesn't he just fund the whole thing regardless of independent teams and broadcasters? Build it and they will come? I'll tell you why. Because there's a limit to what he is willing to spend on this venture. He's not stupid and he's not blind. That's not a criticism of Forrest, that's a criticism of people who try and justify that despite it not happening, Forrest will spend tens to hundreds of millions on this venture, on the basis he has the money.
ols
Roar Pro
His iron shipments have increased 5%. BHP still suffering from that derailment. Dam burst in Brazil has pushed ore prices up and dented competitor. China slowdown would have them push money into the economy and spend more on iron ore. Financially everything is rosy for him. The pockets are way more than deep enough. What he is spending on rugby is chump change. As long as the desire stays strong he will succeed,
Won't happen
Guest
Twiggy should just spend his money on hosting a golf tournament. More chance of meeting like minded persons than this madness.
Geoff
Roar Rookie
Another blowhard from the west, at least Bondy won something, lol indeed.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Oh well, at least the Force fans will get a good series of rugby this year, the main tournament will still be worth the wait.
Rugger
Guest
Global Rapid Rugby will take off straight after Clive Palmer’s Titanic II sets sail ???????? I can hear the chanting coming from pubs all over WA already “REBELS, REBELS, REBELS” I told you so..
ForceFan
Roar Rookie
Good announcement on the GRR site. I'm liking the alternative for 2019/RWC year - especially if it means a fully manned, with high profile marqe players who will be available after the RWC, 8-team competition in 2020. 7 or 8 international games in Perth during 2018, local rugby plus NRC will provide enough local interest for me with the possibility of OS travel to watch the lads play in interesting locations. Thanks again for keeping professional rugby in Perth Minderoo!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How so?
andrewM
Roar Rookie
Disappointing, but I'll take the exhibition matches over what the RA is offering WA - which is of course Sweet FA. Hopefully it will give the teams which have already made the commitment (Fiji, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Force) and those close to (Samoa and Malaysia) more time to develop their squads and team culture and a window of opportunity for others to now join (Western Sydney jumps into my mind).
In brief
Guest
Starting to sound a bit like the Wolfpack
Mel R
Roar Rookie
Disappointing…. yes….. but definitely can see that there is going to be alot more talent available post-world cup! Its going to be win-win for Global Rapid Rugby.We Western Force supporters will no doubt rock up for the ” showcase series 2019″ because we love our team.Kudos to Twiggy and Hodgo. Let the West Coast rugby party begin……..
Treetops
Guest
Sad, but true, Getting it up and running in a world cup year makes it harder again. I do hope this 'year off' will allow time for both the 'super rugby' and 'rapid rugby' officials to start talking more about running a joint competition. To me, the obvious way for Australia to keep its best players in an 'Australian' competition is to involve the japanese club sides