World Rugby has issued a lukewarm response to a proposed new World 12s competition which is being positioned as rugby’s equivalent to the cricket’s Indian Premier League and The Hundred.
Organisers are planning for 192 men’s players from tier one and tier two nations to be picked via auction to represent eight franchises consisting of squads of 24 who will be overseen by established coaches.
The inaugural men’s tournament, which will feature round robin games before a knockout phase determines the winners, will be staged in England next August and September with an equivalent women’s event launching a year later.
The prospect of All Blacks, Wallabies or Springboks being involved seem to be minimal because of the Rugby Championship being held at the same time.
Equal prize money will be offered for both competitions and the expectation is that the World 12s will be staged in different global venues.
It is hoped that the event will prove a money-spinner while also increasing the global appeal of rugby.
Backers for the new concept include New Zealand’s 2015 World Cup-winning coach Steve Hansen, who is a World 12s ambassador alongside ex-South Africa boss Jake White, while former Wimbledon tennis boss and RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie is acting as chairman.
(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
“I really think the players will want to be part of this, and they will find a way to push their clubs and unions to look at the calendar,” Hansen told the BBC.
“Why do I think this is different? Because the players are going to have a vested interest, they will want to play in it for a number of reasons.
“One, financially, that’s the obvious one. Two, I think the concept of being able to spend three weeks with some of the best players in the world, rub shoulders on the training field, that is too good to turn down.
“You look at the IPL, people want to be there for the money, but they want to be there because of who they are playing with.”
Hansen, in a separate interview with rugbypass added:
“The game [XV rugby] has been around for a long, long time – we’re pretty used to it and have probably got a little complacent.
“World 12s gives us an opportunity to get really excited and move people’s backsides from the back of the seat to the front of it. It’s an exciting concept, to play a game of rugby that is going to be fast, that is about skill. It will encourage big men, little men right across the park. Fans will enjoy that.
“It’s a really big opportunity to look at something on the laws to make them simpler, easier to understand and work with the rest of the world on that so we can be showcasing those without introducing a whole load of gimmicks – we still want the concept of the (15s) game.
“And it’s an opportunity for players to be able to rub shoulders with guys that they don’t necessarily rub shoulders with.
“When they select it will be players from all over the world and it’s a three-week competition.
“Player welfare has been something we have already talked a lot about to make sure we are not taxing players.
“It’s a proposal that is really going to change the face of rugby and enhance it as opposed to detracting from it. I’m really excited.”
Despite the heavyweight names attached, the sport’s global governing body World Rugby has responded to its launch by questioning how it will fit within the new global calendar which is currently being drawn up.
“We are aware of the proposed new World 12s competition,” a World Rugby spokesperson said.
“While we welcome innovative thinking with the potential to advance the reach, attractiveness and growth of the sport, comprehensive consultation with the organisers is required to understand the viability of the concept, particularly in the context of ongoing global calendar discussions and the priority area of player welfare.”
It is difficult to see how the World 12s belongs in an already congested schedule and details beyond the format and rules of the event are thin on the ground.
Unquestionably the biggest problem it faces is player release with clubs and provinces in European leagues unlikely to allow their stars to take part during a time of year when they are either on holiday or in pre-season.
Ritchie sees a bright future for a competition backed by a UK-based financial consortium and claims he has had made headway with the unions, leagues and players associations he will need to convince if the project is to get off the ground.
“World 12s is a natural evolution for rugby union. We feel that this is a game for our changing, fast-paced world that can excite a global fan base in the way that we have seen with the IPL or most recently The Hundred in cricket,” Ritchie said.
“In bringing together the most exciting players under the stewardship of some of the brightest rugby minds with commercial backing, we are looking to propel rugby forward and lay a positive roadmap for how the game is perceived for future generations.
In the 12s format, each team will consist of six backs and six forwards. Matches last 30 minutes and the competition will take part over three successive weekends.
NH Fan
Guest
Do all the players of Irish, Scottish and Italian heritage have to play for their ancestral home too. U20s shows the drop in standards of the PIs who now fight it out with the 8th best euro team while Georgia & Italy have has established themselves as top 12 sides. I don't understand why TRC does not include Japanese money. Fiji has improved since their stars moved North being fijians playing in France, England and even Scotland unlike in in NZ/OZ where they are employees working to become NZ/OZ internationals. Players like Charles Piatua only became a PI player when he came to Europe, until then he was just another AB born and raised player on the North Island. Providing fair competition for the PIs is the 6Ns giving them 2-3 games each per November. A world championship denies all the T2 nations who play the 6 nations games. Maybe look closer to home for people who need to do more for T2 help. If it wasn't for Italy cancelling this year NZ wouldn't have played PIs.
sheek
Roar Guru
NH Fan, 6 Nations & RC matches would be part of the 11 matches each country has to play in 1st & 2nd division, ie, each country plays each other once annually. As I understand it, the TV revenue would be split more or less evenly irrespective of population sizes. It's the fairest way forward. I think it is totally wrong that Pacifika nations players (Fiji, Samoa, Tonga) have to sell themselves as mercenaries to NZ, Australia, Japan, England, France & Wales (& soon other countries) in order to achieve a decent professional career. I would like to see Fijian heritage players representing Fiji; Samoan heritage players representing Samoa & Tongan heritage players representing Tonga. Anyone who disagrees with this view can only be selfish & unempathetic. A World Nations Championship is the best way to provide a level playing field. But of course, Scotland, Italy & possibly Ireland are each terrified of dropping out of 1st division, so they veto the concept.
NH Fan
Guest
That is what the Premership/England thought back in the early 2000s. They are now about to ringfence the Premership with wage caps half the size of the T14 and less than many European based URC teams. Japan have big plans but the top league was funded by large companies. It is one thing to get the J-league going when football is such a global brand it's another thing to get rugby to be sustainable long term. I am sure it will be bigger than the TT but not sure it will have the market it needs in isolation. They have already had to drop to 24 teams from 25 and while all 24 were meant to be professional some have already said they are staying semi-pro using company employees. Hasn't been a great start. Add in they are using the same teams as the old system but basically splitting the second division into two divisions.
Pete
Guest
Haha Jak a leaguie absolutely with no idea...IRB Rugby World Cup in France in 2 years time ticket sales already over the 1.2 million mark boy would the leaguies be licking their chops if they could pull that.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
The Japan league will become one of the strongest in the world. It has so much money behind it, it can’t fail.
NH Fan
Guest
This is only getting any coverage because of has beens that are involved and have media contacts. White won't be allowed to go coach at this as the Currie Cup is on. This is like the soccer league that lasted a week. It has no players and the teams that have contracted the best players will be in Pre-season or the TRC. WR will not sanction it which is basically what they said. If big clubs like United, Real etc couldn't do it there is no way the men's idea will get off the ground and I doubt the women's would get much money.
NH Fan
Guest
Japan's new league is still to show its viable. The stars gets loads of money but would be surprised if the Japanese teams have budgets to match the URC teams. Russian league has good money (more per team than MLR) and the European Super Cup (similar to MLR in terms of money and standards) has good backers behind it plus can get into the European Cups for extra income as we look to do a bigger Challange Cup.
NH Fan
Guest
The PIs did a combined team it wasn't very good. If you are talking any player who has an connection to the PIs that isn't really realistic. What is Billy V's connection to the PIs, he never spend a day in them, how many NZ or Oz players quailify for the PIs via parents or grandparents. Also who plays the PIs more at international level maybe the 6N teams. With SA and Argentine players moving North the calender won't take long to fix, don't forget half the members of WR are in Europe so might be why they hold as much power as the rest of the world who are far from united (Look at NZ/OZ relationship with the other Unions compared to SA or France). When you say the European leagues do you mean the T14, ProD2, Premership, URC, European Super Cup, Spainish, Romanian and Russian leagues which are professional (about 80 clubs who provide more contracts to T2 and T3 players than the rest of the world). SARU seem to be happy to be apart of the NH as are Fiji while America tried to copy the European T2 model of Clubs and International structures.
NH Fan
Guest
WR does not need an annual WC that removes T1 games from teams like Georgia, Samoa, Tonga, Canada, and US or Fiji which everone didn't become T1. The 12 team tournament is basically asking European T1 and T2 nations to help everyone else have meaningful games. TRC should go to 6 teams on its own not ask the 6 nations to fund it. What WR needs to do is have 3 regions of Asia/Pacific, Europe/Africa and Americas and have regional club and international competitions. The fall of the American 6 Nations is a sad development. Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Georgia and Isreal are each about to get a professional team. WR did nothing to help them. Why there is no Pacific Champions Cup to link Japan and SR is beyond me. I guess its WR's job too.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
“And it’s an opportunity for players to be able to rub shoulders with guys that they don’t necessarily rub shoulders with." Had a chuckle at this. Given most players are going to be playing in one of three leagues soon: france, japan and england. This comment is ridiculous. Also, players rub shoulders together after every test in the sheds with a beer.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Terrible idea.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Too right Brett, do think for one minute if Hansen was still coach he would accept this. He must be getting a great cut from the deal, as after all he is the ambassador for it.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Then why are you on a Rugby post? Gee Rugby League news must have rave reviews :shocked:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Yep and next it will be one on one, only involving the captains, what happens if one is binned? :shocked:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Too right Kahukura, and if double standard Hansen was still All Blacks coach would he approve of such a proposal? Potential injuries to the players and player burnout he would complain about. He is a hypocrite and what is his pay cut in the deal?
The World in Union
Roar Rookie
I suspect the real objective is to shake up World Rugby. Something will come of this eventually but it won't be World 12s. They'll have a few more ideas up their sleeves.
LuckyPhil
Roar Rookie
I don't see it working. Not because it can't, but due to the fact there are so many other wealthy people involved that would be reluctant to release their players. However, if those cashed up O/S club owners get a part of the action, hard to see them not jumping at it. That aside, why 12's. There is already 7s, 10s and 15s.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Just another cunning plan to rip fans off. Fans don’t have an endless supply of money. Rugby is an 90 minute game for Gods sake leave it alone.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Wasn't union dumbed down to create league?