Australia and New Zealand’s top provincial sides could be competing for the title of global champions by 2025 under a proposal to introduce a Club World Cup.
As part of the plan, the best eight clubs from the Champions Cup featuring European and South African teams would take on seven from the Super Rugby Pacific and the best franchise from Japan in a tournament every four years.
The 16 teams would be placed in four pools with each side facing off at least twice against opponents from the other side of the globe.
All four pool winners would progress to a semi-final stage and then final to declare a world club champion.
According to a report in The Telegraph in the UK, key stakeholders in the UK have endorsed the radical idea.
Australian teams like the Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies and New Zealand’s strongest franchises like the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Chiefs and Blues would get the rare chance to lock horns with the best from France, the English Premiership and South Africa’s finest after their controversial departure from Super Rugby.
The idea is to run the tournament as a forerunner to the British and Lions tour in 2025 and follow the same four-yearly cycle as the famous squad.
Israel Folau represented Tonga for the first time against Fiji. (Photo by Pita Simpson/Getty Images)
Big guns out of Tongan team
Tonga will be without star internationals Israel Folau, Malakai Fekitoa and Charles Piutau for their World Cup playoff against Hong Kong on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Outside back Folau, capped 73 times for Australia before his Wallabies contract was terminated in 2019, suffered a serious hamstring injury early in his Tonga debut in the 36-0 loss to hosts Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Coach Toutai Kefu told Reuters the dual code international could be sidelined for up to another 12 weeks.
Former New Zealand centre Fekitoa had returned to Irish club Munster after suffering a calf injury while fellow All Black Piutau had only committed to two matches during the Pacific Nations Cup, Kefu added.
In a further blow, former Australia No.8 Lopeti Timani had also been scratched from the Hong Kong game after failing a fitness test at training on Thursday morning.
His place on the bench will be taken by Sione Tuipulotu.
Tonga have only missed qualifying for one World Cup in 1991 and should have too much quality for Hong Kong, despite heading into the playoff in dire form after three straight defeats at the Pacific Nations Cup.
The winner secures a place in Pool D at next year’s World Cup in France with reigning champions South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Romania.
Tonga squad: Telusa Veainu, Tima Fainga’anuku, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Fetuli Paea, Anzelo Tu’itavuki, William Havili, Sonatane Takulua (capt), Sione Havili Talitui, Solomone Funaki, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sam Lousi, Halaleva Fifita, Ben Tameifuna, Siua Maile, Siegfried Fisi’ihoi. Replacements: Samiuela Moli, David Lolohea, Siate Tokolahe, Semisi Paea, Sione Tuipulotu, Manu Paea, James Faiva, Otumaka Mausia.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Where are the details around this extra money you are saying SH will get NH FAN? Im not seeing anything
Jacko
Roar Rookie
NH Fan why are WR wanting this? Do you think its all to give SH some extra money? Ive not seen anything as yet that benifits NZ or Aus so WR clearly want it to benifit the NH and rugby in the NH.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Is that when the NH will move the 6N too to align with the SH or do you think the SH would have to just "fit in" with the NH? Tell them there dreaming JD as all Im seeing is change everything SH to suit NH and then play it all in the NH to suit their times for watching. We will probably be given 20 experimental laws to try for 2 years before the NH rejects them. Time to say NO as from what Ive seen RA force the SR comp to become with its dumb extra 3 rounds of local games, I cannot see 10-15 nations agreeing on anything decent or close to any sort of game share equality.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Move the pointless 6N to align with the RC and that frees up a good window. Play the games in the SH to suit the times for us to watch it.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Hairmish McLennan!!!!!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So just rig it so a NH side makes the final and always play it in the NH? Yeah Nah!!!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Teams could always use their whole squads Guess instead of just 25 of them.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Plus their was an Argentinian playing in it and a German and Dutch guy so thats 8 countries now Piru.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Only 2 teams make money from 1 game Soapit.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Isnt Hamish and his merry men doing their own thing JD? Would RA continue in this club comp if they lost? ( Stan wont like them not winning and will want a domestic only comp. ) What if they found that a NH club got more money? Thats a bad partner right there.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
With RA going it alone Brett it can be played after the 8 week double round plus the 5 team finals SRAU comp. That leaves a couple of weeks spare right there and lets face it Aus rugby players do nothing after SR finishes unless called up for the Wallabies so the world will just fit in with RA. IF RA lose then they will pull out as STAN will tell them to forget one sided games and if RA find out that another club side gets more than them for their whole rugby media deal they will pull out before the comp starts stating the clubs are not good partners and Twiggy is backing them to do their OWN world club comp. Hamish will answer your question. "Please Explain" will soon be replaced with "Dont you worry about that" :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
piru
Roar Rookie
Suspect the NH will lose enthusiasm for this fairly quickly.
piru
Roar Rookie
Then wouldn't that be five countries (Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji) represented?
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Only thing that would change from the current set up is the T2 sides would play their regional tournament during the RC window. This allows the PIs to host July tests against NH teams. Gives the T2 sides better Regional tournaments. Not sure about playing in the summer, SR, Japan MLR etc would all stay the same dates.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
As far as I am aware they are talking about the top 7. So if they come in as the top seven then I don't see why not? TBH, I think 7 is too many. Top 4 or 5 max imo
piru
Roar Rookie
Are the Moana and Drua teams not invited?
piru
Roar Rookie
Super Rugby pacific encompasses 5 countries, not just Australasia
Big A
Roar Rookie
thanks NH - we can play our rugby in summer so we can align with you guys - it's a no-brainer - how about we just leave things as is and concentrate on making rugby a better spectacle than we currently have
soapit
Roar Guru
And is therefore not very smart?
Big A
Roar Rookie
i've got an idea - why doesn't the SH say no for once to these stupid ideas from France and Britannia - like Kancil said above, the priority from these buffoons running the game should be World Rugby sorted out the mess of the laws and wasted time in matches.