New 'world league' competition set to revitalise internationals from 2026

When professionalism started, the PI unions (except NZ) were not thrown out; they were shut out. There's a difference. I can tell you that Fiji rugby, for one, in those days was a cesspool of nepotism and corruption and was rightly never involved in early pro SR. And If Romania was a founding member of the 5N, what happened to them now? I never heard that they were. The 5N prejudices were even deeper than the 6N when it came to expansion. And Aust and NZ helped the PIs in other ways than mismatched Tests; they allowed PI players to compete in their competitions. That Fiji side that beat Wales in the 2007 RWC; a lot of their squad had come through the NZ/Aust system beforehand. Development done a different way.

I completely agree that T1 teams should play more T1 nations. Fiji and Tonga played ABs in 2021 after Italy was cancelled after covid. Same year Georgia played SA after Scotland's tour was cancelled due to covid. 6Ns regularly play the T2 nations while the RC teams other than Covid do not. In 2022 we had the following games for T1 v T2 if we count 6N and RC as T1. Japan - France 3, England 1, NZ 1. Fiji - Scotland 1, Ireland 1. Tonga - none. Samoa - Italy 1. Georgia - Italy 1, Wales 1. Portugal - Italy 1. Romania - Italy 1. If we exclude Italy who played 4 t2 nations, 5N played 7 T2 games and RC played 1 T2 game. 6Ns have always taken care of T2 nations with Japan, Fiji, Tonga, USA, Canada and Georgia depending on 6Ns to give them T1 games while the RC nations give out that its really the 6N who hate T2 nations. Its in the European leagues where the top T2 nations players play T1 club games because SR was effectively a closed shop and declaring for a T2 nation meant your contract wasn't renewed. Georgia have the Black Lions and of their Euro Champ squad 21 play in 6N countries and the remaining 18 play for the Black Lions who are 1 of 3 teams looking to be invited to the Challenge Cup next year. Romania had teams in the Champion and Challenge Cups since 1995 until they withdrew them which resulted in Russia getting teams in. 6N is doing alot to make T2 countries to be T1. What have RC done other then play A games and charge the PI nations more money than they make for the privilage. Once professionaism hit the PIs were thrown out of SR while the 5N included Romania and Italy as founding members, 1 has gone on to be a T1 country while the other has not.

How are you supposed to get more T1 nations if existing teams don't play T2 nations? In Georgia's case, that means the 6N.

6N is a 1 division competition so where do teams get promoted from or relegated to. If you are talking about a WL no they will not. Just like Oz and Arg will not accept going bankrupt and losing all the professional players at home so that Fiji or Japan can have a place at in the RC. Arg losing SR cost them every professional to leave, imgaine if either union lost 20-30m for each year they were out. We want more T1 nations not less.

Clearly not mate, his form for NZ esp in tandem with Cane is a huge bonus, and at Super level this year he was outstanding But given the general media is Blues slanted, which makes sense population wise but these are the same guys who told us BB should be the first five RTS is an all black Papalii should start over Cane (and ardie is 7 despite his horrible intl record there) Akira Ioane should be the 6 Finlay Christie should be the starting 9 and the last pillar remaining Reiko is a centre I reckon if you have been on any of those bandwagons you should be handing in your press pass

Have to express some dismay highlander but off topic. Sometimes in NZ we are really well informed about the game but there are times I doubt that. The example of recent comments on Frizell from current articles having not performed even at Super level. Do these people not actually watch the game?

Georgia will be playing in the NH conference. It's up to 6N unions to show flexibility.

I would much rather a 16 team league but then T1 would have to play T2 which would be fine for 6N as they are already playing Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga or whoever else is picked. On the other hand SH teams would have to start playing Georgia and Spain/Romania/Portugal which if you exclude WC warm up may be able to be counted on 1 hand the number of games over the last 5 years SA, NZ and OZ have played so there was no way SANZAAR was signing up for that.

As we saw this year Wales were not to far away from finishing last nor where England. France also have finished last in the last 10 years the same year Ireland finished second last. 6Ns are the only ones who can decide if they want to open their competition to Georgia or any other team. Like with France and Italy it would be adding Georgia not leaving it at 6 teams. 6Ns understand that if Italy or Scotland lose €20-30 a year via relagation, by not being in the 6N their professional teams will go to wall and Georgia will not be able to provide a team to beat Zebre never mind the other club 3 teams. For the WL they have accepted relegation but it is unclear who it would be as two groups of 6. Italy have beaten more T1 teams this WC cycle then Japan and Fiji combined as have Georgia, and Japan a WC team not an every year team. going off u20s Japan and Fiji have been yoyo clubs while Italy has been established since 2016 and they along with Georgia are now seeing those players coming through.

not through a Northern lens but through the wording. There are 12 places. 6 for the 6Ns and 6 for SANZAAR. SANZAAR will invite two nation to be joined with their 4Ns. Promotion and relegation is going to happen which Georgia is most likely to win based of games between all these nations, yes Samoa might do it but it remains to be seen if all their old players who are past it can be better than all the good young players Georgia are bringing through. 2028 winners should be promoted in 2030 or 2030 winners will be promoted in 2032 by which time a 30 year old player will be 35 and the under 20s will be 25. If Georgia go up and Japan or Fiji finish last who goes up and in what conference will they be.

Would the 6N teams accept promotion/relegation? Last I heard, neither Italy nor Scotland were willing to accept it.

if there is promotion relegation would it be the top team from each region. In theroy that is great but if the Italy and Japan were to be relegated the first year and Georgia and Samoa come up in their place you are replacing to big markets with two much smaller markets and I don't think that if SANZAAR would want that.

Inviting Georgia into the SH zone absolutely has no merit. And BNHF is viewing everything South through the filter of a North lens.

Noted. But we're both speculating at this point. I take your point re: T1 nations v Georgia.

No argument from me fiwi… Brendan has an alternative view – it does have merit as well, particularly if SANZAAR invite the US and not Fiji. We would have set the precedent…

GG, no way should Georgia be included in the SH conference. A look at the map alone should suffice as to the reason why.

NZ is also hot at that time of year. That heat can dehydrate you in three ways as I found out: sunlight, wind and glare (on the eyes). Playing a sport in medically unfit conditions could make the organisers liable. As for South Africa, altitude has a cooling effect but also their temperatures seem to be more variable and don't seem to get anywhere near as hot as Australia (Google checked). BIG QUALIFIER: I have never been to South Africa but I'm sure someone can explain this to me. Australia is 85% desert. FYI: Australia's fatal Black Summer bushfires in 2019 started in winter and spilled over into 'autumn' (January-February). That can happen again. SR rugby should ideally be starting late March or April. It doesn't because of commercial considerations.

Tahs v Brumbies held on 24/02/2023 had 25k. Bulls v Stormers 18/02/2023 41k. If Oz is to hot then play the first two rounds outside of Oz. I know it is hot is Oz but it is hot in Pretoria too and I am sure its not great with altitude thrown in too but they manage. For the moment its not going to happen but we know SA and Arg have called for it to happen and those calls are not going away.

NZ want away fans to get a share of the gate as NZ get the least in the RC and probably Italy is the only T1 nation who get less in attendance. How much of that $100m do NZ hand over to SANZAAR or do nations keep their own commercial deals that relate to the RC. How much bigger a year is the AB sponsorship compared to Oz or SA. If NZ are getting $100m and £72m (I am guessing it is over years) a year their income from everything else must be tiny. That would be $248m out of $271m. The simple thing is that there are more rugby fans within an hour of Eden Park than any other stadium in the world outside of South Africa. NH teams have big stadiums because they get lots of fans, its the same reason that SA also have large stadiums. NZ doesn't because fans don't turn up so they never built a bigger stadium.

What part of "too hot" don't you understand? Even the late Feb stàrt has been debated. No way can we align ourselves with the NH season.