England have reportedly opted out of World Rugby’s proposed Nations League, with the fate of the proposed tournament expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Interim Rugby Football Union CEO Nigel Melville has already publicly outlined England’s concerns over the Nations League, but according to a report in The Daily Mail, the RFU have privately told key nations, including Australia, of their intention to reject the proposal.
At a World Rugby meeting earlier this month, unions around the world were informed March 29 would be the deadline for signing up to the Nations League, or it would not go ahead. That deadline has since been extended to April 5, but even that is creeping up.
Southern hemisphere nations are expected to confirm their support for the planned concept later this week.
One of the key reasons in Melville’s public stance on the issue was player welfare.
“The narrative makes sense, but there are obvious concerns coming out of the proposal,” said Melville on the RFU’s website earlier in the week.
“If you take them in order, player welfare is a significant one. We have to look at the July window. You could end up playing South Africa, Argentina and Japan, which I think was the proposal for 2026, which would be a difficult one. I don’t think anyone fancies that holiday.
“The other one is in a Lions year you’d have two games against Japan and Fiji. That’s probably fine. Or on a normal year we may play Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
“Some of them work, some of them don’t. From a player welfare perspective, is it fair to ask players to jump on a plane straight after a hard season and ask them to play three games? We usually stay in one country or two countries close together. To go to three is bit of a challenge.”
Given southern hemisphere teams already go to Europe at the end of each season, and European teams do it the other way around in July, that argument is unlikely to get much support, particularly from SANZAAR nations.
Melville also expressed concerns with the financial viability of being relegated out of the top division.
“The second point is promotion and relegation. I don’t think anyone is against the principles of it,” said Melville.
“In order to make it work Six Nations-wise, you need a credible tier two tournament. I don’t know what you’d be relegated into at the moment. That tier two tournament is something we’ve got to build, World Rugby has a responsibility to build that.
“For us, being relegated would be catastrophic, commercially. The catastrophe isn’t just the team being relegated, it’s our ability to fund the game as a governing body in England. Can we fund the community game in England to the level we do now if we don’t have the revenues we have?”
While it’s unclear of the stance from the rest of the Six Nations unions in Europe, it’s understood they will continue attempting to carry out their own plans, which includes a new and lucrative TV deal.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
They are afraid of being beaten more often....what a bunch of old farts....now who said that...?
Munstertim
Guest
Are you serious there fella? The 6ns is massively lucrative for each nation, way more so than the autumn internationals. So ye boycotting would of course provide a financial hit for the 6ns teams, it would basically wipe all the sh unions out as professional entities. Ire or eng touring aus on a 3 match June tour basically sells out all venues, imagine losing that income, not to mind the finish of the lions, which is a tour that keeps all 3 sh nation's in dosh for years after the event!!
Munstertim
Guest
Or maybe it's cos the 6ns is a beloved and hugely successful comp & we don't want to mess with it
taylorman
Roar Guru
Love it: "Melville also expressed concerns with the financial viability of being relegated out of the top division." Who would have a CEO that says that in a year of the rugby World cup. Hilarious. For Englands sake hopefully the loser doesn't last long.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well we say the same with the AI's. Thats when they snag their wins...
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Racialism is characterised by the belief that racial differentiation is important in determining human behaviour. No amount of semantics or pedantry changes the intent or motivation. Nor does the topic under which it is exercised, rugby in this case, offer an excuse. To the contrary, the insidious nature of such topics is particularly relevant to the issue. It could rightly be considered the worst form.
Philip O'Donovan
Guest
So Australia lose money touring in the Northern Hemisphere.I can only presume that Ireland would have lost money touring Australia last year as the arrangements would have been the same. Stop trying to blame the north for Australia's inability to get its act together.England play Georgia at Twickenham and get 50,000 in attendance.Australa play Argentina on the Gold Coast and get less than 10,000. Therein lies the problem.
SAVAGE
Guest
No surprises here. To be fair, the heads of SANZAAR would've seen this coming, and the Home Unions are looking after themselves. So, what are the ideas for moving forward without the Home Unions?
QED
Roar Rookie
Not that it will probably happen. But AB's, Boks, WB and Puma's should have a joint motivational meeting pre RWC with a common goal of an all SH semi final round again. Truly it would be poetic justice. it wont necessarily raise more money for SANZAAR but gee it would be good
QED
Roar Rookie
English Rugby voting in favour of their own self interest over developing the game world wide. A bit like they when they paid Samoa 75,000 pounds when the played them at Twickenham and then trousered 5 million pounds for themselves. The Samoan players got 650 pound match fee english players 22,000
QED
Roar Rookie
AB's have played England 08 Nov 2014 then 10 November 2018. That's a long time between drinks. Apparently the world didn't come to an end or New Zealand rugby go bankrupt
riddler
Roar Rookie
I care in Spain!
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
"You’re simply displaying your own racialism or ignorance." You do realise the irony of this comment. Also, most (Australians and New Zealanders) are of Anglo-Saxon stock and one cannot be racist against their own race. Defending England from criticism on rugby matters by calling it "racialism" simply devalues the term and the issue.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Sure
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Relax Neil I was just having a laugh
Ozkiwi
Guest
He gave himself away when referring to June internationals as a “holiday”. Pretty abhorrent attitude.
OzKiwi
Guest
If England come last in the six nations and then lose at home to Georgia, Russia, Spain or Portugal, chances are the game in England will already be dead and the grassroots community would have already abandoned them.
Jock the sock
Guest
Fair enough
John R
Roar Guru
"The only reasonable response from SANZAAR nations will be to refuse all games to 6 nations teams. " I think they've already threatened to cancel the end of year tours.
Bluesfan
I understand what you are saying Geoff, but unless the RFU and other Nth Unions decide to become altruistic - I don't understand why they would sign up? Whilst not the best in rugby terms - in financial strength - it all lies with them. CVC bid for part ownership is just an opening bid - rights for 6 Nations are only going to grow etc. Sth are effectively a 3rd world to them - there to be mined for a ready pool of high quality players and games, but realistically other than that we have little or no power. Think the best description of Nth/Sth rugby - is Nth - price maker and Sth is price taker. It's not very fair etc, but it is what it is.