Look at Twitter today and you’ll no doubt see various videos of pets making you laugh or somebody being politically outraged at a politician who has or hasn’t said something that they believe in. If you’re a rugby fan, you may have noticed the global anger at World Rugby and its project for a World League.
The initial concept was simple. The top 12 teams in the world rankings compete within multiple groups, culminating in finals to be played in the northern hemisphere in November.
I say simple when really it was just an example of complicating an already complex model. Group games would all be played in the southern hemisphere in June through July, with the likes of the UK, Ireland or France hosting semi-finals and finals in November; effectively giving the money making matches to the North.
I was against the idea from the outset. Yes, the money would be shared among all teams evenly; but then why should Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England be effectively penalised for laying long term foundations and building dedicated national rugby stadia?
Why should New Zealand or South Africa profit from not building suitable venues to generate sufficient income to not make the unions so reliant on funds from whichever TV company has the deepest pockets?
And how exactly were the Six Nations and Rugby Championship supposed to fit in to this new structure; with neither willing to budge from traditional times of the year? What about the World Cup?
At the time of writing, it has recently come out that the World League will include 12 teams (the Six Nations and Rugby Championship unions, along with Japan and USA).
As of 28th February 2019, the top 12 ranked countries are;
1. New Zealand
2. Ireland
3. Wales
4. England
5. South Africa
6. Australia
7. Scotland
8. France
9. Fiji
10. Argentina
11. Japan
12. Georgia
Two of the proposed teams are missing (USA and Italy), with Georgia and Fiji gatecrashing the party like a drunk ex at a wedding reception. The leaked proposal smacks of World Rugby taking the money in markets such as the US and Japan; neglecting its requirement to grow the game globally.
In addition to this, there would be no promotion or relegation from the World League for 12 years! How is a team outside of the top 12 supposed to climb up the rankings sufficiently in those 12 years without consistent matches against those ranked above them or without the funds that this league would supposedly generate?
Augustin Pichot comes across as a great guy. He’s affable, charismatic and comes from a traditional underdog nation in rugby terms. This league, for all intents and purposes, is his baby; but from the looks of it he’s forgotten about the baby’s mother, the food it needs, nappies and a cot.
There could be speculation that he is protecting Argentinian interests, with his country struggling in both Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship since their entry in to both competitions. I would prefer not to look at it that way and see that Pichot genuinely thinks that this will make rugby union more marketable internationally.
The issues with the league are various beyond the lack of funds for those nations outside of the tournament.
Would it overshadow the need for a World Cup? What’s to stop all Pacific Island players leaving their countries to take up lucrative contracts abroad with the idea that one day they could play international rugby for those adopted countries? What about player welfare?
World Rugby are seeing so much positive organisation happening throughout the globe, why doesn’t it try backing those tournaments?
The NRC with the Drua has been great for Australian and Fijian rugby. Why not look at Tongan and Samoan teams entering that or New Zealand Mitre 10 Championship?
The USMLR is burgeoning and, with the Toronto Arrows entering this year, professional influence will have positive knock on effects in both the USA and Canada. World Rugby could invest in that and help establish strong infrastructures for clubs and governing bodies.
A similar tournament is being mooted in South America incorporating teams from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. Invest in that.
Establish similar tounraments in Asia (Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea) and Africa (Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, etc). Correct the ridiculous politics involved in the Rugby Europe Championship that saw Spain, Romania and Belgium all caught up in eligibility issues.
There are so many ways for World Rugby to invest funds in a more efficient manner than than blowing its load on a Frankenstein’s Monster style tournament that neither the players nor the fans want to see.
Force Tier 1 nations to travel to Tier 2 nations on tours. Have New Zealand and Australia stop in the pacific islands on their way to Europe or prior to the Rugby Championship.
Have the Springboks play away games in Namibia or Kenya. Make England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland play Georgia, Romania, Germany and Belgium. Imagine the passion of French or Italian supporters shouting down Spanish or Portuguese fans in Spain or Portugal!
Wind you neck in World Rugby. You’re wrong this time. I don’t know if you’ve had too much to drink or have been eyeing up a girl that you’re never going to talk to; but you’re blind. Go home and reassess everything tomorrow.
Anthony Barber
Guest
This is very true, rugby's greed will kill the golden goose of international rugby. Teir one nvations must be forced to play two teir 2 nations in their region each year before the rugby championship, eg; NZ play Fiji at home and Tonga away whilst Australia play Japan away and Samoa at home, then rotate. SA to do the same in Africa, American teams to be given opportunities in Europe. The Pacific islands have to be more than just a natural resource to plunder . Anthony Barber Old Bar
Jacko
Guest
Look up the dictionary
Oz kiwi
Guest
If they ditch the finals and just have a round robin championship there is room for traditional rivalries like Games against 15th ranked Italy for th 6 nations or 2nd Bledisloe cup. You can have ur cake and eat it too but need to do away with finals.
Onside
Guest
Why is LEAGUE in the title .
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hahaha those Sader shagger types, are only assisting in helping to produce, for your consumption, the NZ exported "Sunday roast"!! Enjoy, mate!! Lol. The Saders by plenty!!!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well the likes of Grahame Henry, along with players like Keiran Read, Johnny Sexton, have come out opposing the idea of this concept. Their views, are mainly concerning players welfare, & to be able to produce top line performances week after week. Not only that, but Henry has also claimed, that having this in place, would virtually make the RWC, as we know it, irrelevant. IMO, there would be many issues to bring to the table, before, this would take off. There is also the neglect of the PI's, being incorporated. That in itself is another issue, as we do know the problems of the past, regarding the PI's, is possibly what is being held against them. As far as player influx in national teams, with players from the PI's, there is many a national team, around the globe, that has these players, or maybe second or third generation Polynesians, or Melanesian in their make ups. Definitely interesting times ahead, but IMO, the main grievance would have to be player welfare.
FYI
Guest
Have the World Cup every two years. Have the 12 team world league once every four years. Even have the two tiers of 12. In the year of the BIL tour, it takes out 5 teams. Have a mini 12 team work league (including teams ranked down to 17)
Ant
Guest
Sorry those no’s should probably be 10 and 3 or 4
Hanibal
Roar Rookie
NP I enjoyed your article and I agree with most of it. I personally think the new World League proposal is terrible. For one, it will seriously devalue the World Cup. However, your credibility took a bit of a knock with your question "why should South Africa profit from not building suitable venues?" South Africa has the best rectangular stadiums in the world – by a country mile. It has 12 stadiums capable of hosting a World Cup final (and I write this as an Australian, where we have only one decent rugby stadium, in Brisbane). Seven of those are spectacular new stadiums built for the soccer World Cup, at least five of those would be far better than anything, and I mean anything, in Europe including Twickenham, Millennium and Aviva.
soapit
Guest
way too close to being a mini world cup with so many teams and have a finals series. not too mention the boneheaded idea to lock out pacific nations, the key to a vibrant world cup is having as many countries as possible playing near the top level, exlcuding three sides that can realistically get to a good level will stagnate the wc for a long time, usa, japan and italy arent going to get close to filling that hole
Michael R
Guest
We dont need a World League as proposed.We have the World Cup and we need to invest in building markets to make this a growing world game.Rugby nurseries in the Pacific,markets in Eastern Europe,Africa and Asia need to be developed.This proposed thought bubble of a competition needs to be rejected.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
I couldnt agree more. My thoughts are why not run it every second year. 4 global pools of 5 teams. SA, Arg, USA, + 2 from Americas Aus, NZ, Japan + 2 island/asian teams Eng, Wales, Scotland + 2 european teams France, Italy, Ireland, + 2 European teams. Top of each pool then plays off with other regional teamsw the final being between winner those two. Basically European Champion vs Rest of the World Champion. You then run an the normal 6 nations and RC on the off years. Second tier nations play their own comps in those years and top two teams are then picked for the next tournament. You keep the June tours on the non-championship years but have the top tier nations play at least one 2nd tier nation as part of the tour. The regular 6n/RC can then slot into WC years and the Lions tours can be accommodated on the other "regular" season year. Just a thought.
Jacko
Guest
Can you release all the details so we can all have a look and decide whether its any good or not? yeah thought so....you have no more details than the rest of us.....The FACTS are not being released as yet but the articles just keep on coming.....Perhaps the NH should stop concentrating on building stadiums and try building WC winning rugby teams.....1 WC win between the lot of them......It must be those fantastic "longterm foundations" they are building....how long before they start working Northernpom? In the mean time you enjoy the big stadiums we will enjoy the wins
Machooka
Roar Guru
Yeah MrRobC... I had thought along similar lines. And what a waste of genuine talent that would be for rugby. Global rugby. Good luck against those Sader shagger types tonight... I'm really looking forward to this one :)
cookie
Roar Guru
Gee the whole thing reminds me of the genius muppet who over expanded Super rugby and made it a shambles. At this stage the thing just reeks of short sighted greed at the expense of the game. I would prefer to see in-between world cups versions of soccers euro and asian cup.. So Northern / Southern Hemisphere tournaments... or go one better and do it logically... Split it so that it is in the same time zone.. Other ways to think about it are.. aAmericas, pacific/ Asia, Euro, Africa It's a sad that the Pacific doesn't have it's own version of the six nations tournament.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Yes, HIS plan. Doesn't necessarily mean it is a plan that makes sense for everyone. Or that he cares about that.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for the post. This type of thing will move Pac Isle to league, although Rugby is their first sport of choice... for now
Machooka
Roar Guru
Oh... apologies NorthernPom. Thanks for the read ;)
PeterK
Roar Guru
totally agree. The top 12 countries play in the initial WL if it goes ahead for one year. At the end the team that comes last in the WL (may not be the 12th ranked team) plays the 13th ranked team home and away and the winner takes the last spot the following WL year.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Agree Harry... but for mine there's aways to go here, and you say (and Carlos), Gus says he opposes the WL as envisioned. So we will see? I, also, am pretty good with the overall concept in principle... but, for 'we' here in the South, there would need to be significant change to our present yearly international comps. Meaning, the RC should be expanded to include Fiji and Japan and modelled on the 6Ns format (only one Test per comp against all the sides), the Bled Cup back to a one off per season, and the Autumn tours to be scrapped so as to facilitate this new WR. It's doable... but the allure of the filthy lucre' is always blinding for the major stakeholders, so anything is possible when taking this into consideration. Sadly!