Rugby X, a five-a-side version of the sport, has been given the go-ahead by World Rugby in an attempt to enhance its finances and the global appeal of the code.
World Rugby has given its approval for a new five-a-side version of the sport with an international tournament likely to be held in London this year, according to a UK media report.
The sport’s world governing body is hopeful the shortened version – Rugby X – can improve the game’s finances and boost its international appeal much like Twenty20 did for cricket, The Times report said.
Five more tournaments have been planned around the world for next year, with broadcaster ITV in talks to acquire rights to show the initial event to be held in London’s O2 Arena, it added.
The world’s major rugby sevens nations including England, Australia, Wales, Fiji and France are potential participants.
Former England Sevens coach Ben Ryan has helped develop the new format, where matches last 10 minutes and are played indoors on artificial grass pitches.
Rugby X lays emphasis on quick gameplay and does not have a halftime break or change of ends, while action resumes from the defending team’s end after a try is scored.
The three-man scrums are uncontested and lineouts have been replaced by throws which will be taken by a substitute from the side which has possession.
Objective
Guest
I could understand if this story broke on April 1.
Lindsay
Guest
Ridiculous. I'm a traditionalist. I prefer 7s!
soapit
Guest
why would they think all those people not watching 7's suddenly tune into 5's? good old amateur brained irb
CJ
Guest
Cheers! You know at the time I was deliberating whether or not the plot line was plausible as a work of satiric fiction. I should add I didn't actually anticipate it would happen. Just as something bizarre that was within the realms of possibility. Anyway, need to pull my finger out and get this thing finished!
In Brief
Guest
Back in 2007 I said that rejecting the ELVs was a big mistake. At the time the old farts in the RFU were desperately trying to protect the large vestiges of amateur rugby. They didn't want the game to be too fast for the social player, didn't want to water down the mauls. At the time I said that with the advent of professionalism the clubs in the UK would be demanding an 'entertainment' product. The ELVs were developed by some of the games' best minds and managed to reduce the number of stoppages and penalties without compromising the game's core values. Since then all my predictions have come true and we see a game tinkering around the edges to achieve greater ball in play time. Without the wholistic approach taken by the ELVs this has led to unintended consequences - we are now losing the very thing the game was built on, a contest for the ball. Not sure if they have the guts, but the best thing World Rugby could do would be to dust off the ELVs and bring them back in while sweeping away all the silly 'adjustments' made in the past few years.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
CJ or should we now refer to you as Nostradamus . Well done chap. It certainly is getting dumber.
CJ
Guest
I having been having some fun with some creative writing featuring Rugby and actually came up with this plot line a couple of days before this story broke. The premise behind the plot line was that sport was dumbing down, but I had this happening in about 10 years time. There you go!
Hoy
Roar Guru
What? This is getting perilously close to the 1 on 1 I used to play with my brother...
Brian
Roar Rookie
There are enough formats as it is, more does not always mean better. Totally ridiculous.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Oh goodie... another version of our beautiful game! So if I've got this right... we now have a 23 man a side game (an improvement on that old 15 man a side one), a 10 a side game, a 7 a side game, and now a 5 a side game? Can't wait for the 1 a side game... with uncontested scrums, 3 Referees and a TMO!?!
sul
Guest
I think a lot of the problem is we are getting an over saturation, what a brain dead idea
Kane
Roar Guru
Dunno why it would be called Rugby X? Doesn't that imply 10 players? Why not Rugby V? Or better yet, why even bother at all?
Gary
Roar Rookie
Given the ARU struggles to get anyone interested in Super Rugby and Sevens, and dwindling interest in the national team... can't see them putting any of their meagre resources into this concept. Thank fk.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Omg What will we see next Maybe open, free running one man rugby.