This is the explainer vid they seem to be using for the rule change. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rncx7-cn_Yc

Look at the legal tackles. While they are saying ‘armpit’ in the demonstrations in is very much sternum and below. So as you suggest even if they slide up they shouldn’t result in a illegal tackle. As for the NRL opting to keep its head in the sand on the issue. That’s a really dangerous game to be playing as all that is required is for one of the UK suits to succeed. It doesn’t matter which one and then everything changes and a big part of why Rugby and now the RFL are doing this is to mitigate any potential impact it could have. If the NRL is shown not to have even tried then things could get hairy.

Did you not notice that he has only signed for two seasons. Starting in 2025 and ending in 2026. What is happening in Australia in 2027? Leaving the option open to jump back to Rugby for the home RWC.

Understandable that the RFL has taken this step as like Rugby in the UK they are also staring down a potential class action suit by a raft of former players in relation to CTE related issues. And it’s something the NRL needs to look at doing as well. And before anyone suggests this will lessen the spectacle it’s lowering the line by about 6 inches. Right in the zone of what constituents a good tackle.

Vegas will 100% get a licence when not if the NBA opts to expand to 32. It’s pretty much a no brainer. The Raiders and Athletics have both relocated or are relocating alongside the Knights in the NHL. So that’s three of the Big 4 leagues in the city. Doubt the city will satisfied with just that.

From there I think a second Canadian franchise might be a good option but there’s plenty of interest and contenders.

The World League could be the vessel to help include and develop some of the more promising nations if they were able to think even a little bigger and long term.

And it could be achieved without the dreaded promotion/relegation but instead with at first a degree of crossover games between divisions and in the medium term planned expansion of the the divisions.

This would require first a 2nd Div. being established alongside the T1 driven World League. Fiji and Japan would move to the RC. In know Sth America are no longer interested in the APAC structure as it stands but with built in divisional crossover games this would then provide this structure with a more robust purpose and meaning.

The 2nd Div. would feature APAC and a Europe/Africa conference. In both divisions each conference would play home and away over two years and one game against the teams from the other conference in their division for a total of 16 games spread over two years. In addition to this divisional crossover game to the tune of 4 over the 2 year period would also be built in to bring the total number of games to 20 over two years.

So looking at APAC it would feature Samoa, Tonga, Chile, Uruguay, the USA and let’s include Canada. They would play each other twice and then each of the Europe/Africa teams which would be Georgia, Portugal, Spain, Romania, the Netherlands and Namibia. Plus two games against RC nations and two games against 6Ns. Over a two year period. Each division operating under a single unified table for their division.

These would utilise the current windows including the 6Ns and RC with the November window of the 2nd year operating as the Finals/rankings series.

These would also operate more akin to the 7s set up with the Top 8 teams from the 1st Div. going into the Cup finals. While the bottom 4 falling into the Plate finals alongside the Top 4 from the 2nd Div. This would reward the Top 4 2nd Div. teams with at least an additional game against a 1st Div. opponent. Bottom 8 2nd Div. teams would play off for rankings 17-24. With the last placed team playing the winner of a 3rd Div. featuring 4×4 regional based conferences and a mini-tournament featuring the winner/top 2 from each of those to determine a winner.

In the Cup and Plate finals. Winners would progress while losers would then play off for rankings. So in the Cup losers in week one would go into the 5-8 play off series while in the plate first week losers would play off for the 13-16 rankings.

At the end of the two year period each team would play a guaranteed 22-24 games. With a mix of opponents. It would provide the T1 Unions with the big games they crave while allowing for emerging T2 Unions with increased exposure to T! opposition.

All without promotion/relegation between the top 2 divisions. But that wouldn’t mean that it would be closed entirely with the intention being to in the medium to long term to grow out the 1st Division to include the 12 2nd Div. nations while also elevating and expanding upon the 3rd Div. to the point where there are two 24 team divisions and a 3rd 16 team division.

Not the same squad that got disqualified. After the fallout a large number of established pros retired. It’s a fairly fresh squad. Playing a near full strength Pumas having played in the RC. With very little prep.
I would have expected the Wallabies to have beaten the Portuguese in a similar fashion. But there would have been a time when they would have beaten them by close to 100.

What is of real concern for Romania is there junior results have been on the slide for several years to the point that Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands have all surpassed them at the U18s and 20s level with them now battling it out with the likes of Germany, Belgium and Czechia. Even when it goes to 24 (which seems like 2031 is the preferred timeframe) there’s no guarantees they’ll still be in the Top 4 in Europe. Georgia are essentially top dog, Spain and Portugal are the next best and the Netherlands with a large number of young players in the French system are on the rise and should be a much more significant force in Europe in the coming decade.

People are looking at this result for only half of what it is. Did Aus A underperform. Yeah, probably. But the Portuguese are a solid side with a game against the Eagles under their belt and a pretty electric playing style. They were never going to be rolled. And that I see as an exciting prospect. For all the doom and gloom with the game here. Many are missing the developments happening in Europe and South America. I think we’re going to see some really solid performances from the likes of Portugal, Uruguay and Chile. In excess of what many people would expect. Not so long ago both Chile and Uruguay were taking losses to the likes of Argentina XV. Now they are comfortably beating them and instead of running their top squads out against their other South American rivals like Brazil and Paraguay are sending out A(U23s) teams that are pushing those nations top sides.

Mate, as someone who watches the REC the Top 3 from that competition are comfortably good enough to compete with most nations A sides. To the point given more exposure to them they could easily close the gap in a relative short time frame on them.

Take Spain for example. If you were to rank their current crop of U20s in order with the rest of Europe including the 6Ns you’d have them ranked at 7th. Behind France, Ireland, England, Italy, Wales and Georgia. You can determine this as they won the Junior World Trophy beating Uruguay in the Final who themselves dispatched Scotland in convincing style in the semi. Scotland would be 8th but with a question mark as both the Portuguese and Dutch pushed the Spanish in the qualification stages. Now beyond this, the Spanish Union is opening a number of HP centres and has taken over the RE Super Cup licence with intention of running it as a centralised professional program.

I use Spain as an example because prior to their disqualification in the RWC qualifying process they were the next best side in the REC behind Georgia. Who have beaten Italy and Wales recently. Aus A probably underperformed in this. Sure. And the Wallabies proper squad handle the Portuguese comfortably enough but the gap isn’t as wide of a chasm as it once was.

You’re being a bit disingenuous to the Portuguese here. This is a side that’s been in camp for a while and has most of it’s squad either playing in France or part of a centralized program throughout the year. It is also a side that pushed Italy all the way just last year. Contrary to the narrative pushed by some the Top 3 in Europe which for the record are Georgia, Portugal and Spain (Romania is only at this RWC because of the actions of one Spanish players and club falsifying documents and the FER taking them at face value) all of which have solid local structures and decent numbers of French based pros to call on. Are actually not as far behind the Tier 1 nations as many may think. Given more exposure to games like this they’d close the gap relatively quickly. Particularly Spain, Portugal and to many surprise the Netherlands. With Georgia having arguably and based of recent senior and junior results already having done so.

There’s a middle ground. A hybrid model. Grand finalists from each of Sydney and Brisbane qualify. As does the winner of the ACT comp. That’s 5 clubs. Then a rep squad from Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra designed to capture the best talent not affiliated with those clubs join a rep squad from each of Melbourne and Perth. That’s 10 teams. Playing a single round robin for 9 games plus finals. Total 11 weeks.

What’s probably most impressive so far has been their defensive structure and physicality. In order to beat them you’re going to have to bring your best attacking game. Tomorrow will be an interesting test for them. Canberra showed they have strike power last week to match them and I think it will come down to who stands up most in defence. That said, I do think the Tigers forwards have the advantage and outside of the halves which I think both teams are pretty even I think the Tigers have the edge in the backs.

You weren’t too far off. 10-0 to the Tigers.

That’s something I’ve given some consideration as well. But more focused on domestic SR A/extended squad games. Primarily because it could be run before the U20s TRC where as entering a team in the NPC in NZ would be after the JWC. How it would work is fairly simple. Games are already played among SR A/extended squads at least in Aus and this would be an expansion of that. The 5 franchises plus the U20s teams. At a minimum a single round robin but ideally home and away for 10 games. Club games are fine but at least in theory this would present a higher standard of play which is what is need.

But probably the best opportunity would be entering them in a SRP A competition that runs alongside SRP. Or at least have them playing in one of the SRP A squads at a minimum. While the most talent would obviously be playing SRP proper.

On the U20s TRC and it’s likely impact. Something that has been missing for the likes of Aus, Arg and NZ has been more quality game time against similar level competition. This will help address this to an extent. But more is probably needed beyond just 3 games leading into the JWC. At least from an Australian perspective would be a proper SRP A program featuring at least the 5 Aus and NZ extended squads running alongside SRP.

Regarding the likes of Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga. Well, that is a little tricker but both Aus and NZ could look to continue the Oceania series as a lead in to the TRC as well. Or what would be good is a fifth TRC qualifier slot is created with the winner of the 2024 TRC Challenger Series (which is what it could be called) edition assuming that spot for the 2025 U20s TRC or just give it to Fiji in 2024 and then have the 5th placed TRC team play the winner of the Challenger Series in a pro/rel game. You could then invite the likes of Uruguay to play in the Challenger series to keep it at 4. Possibly another to bring it to 5 as well.

The JWRT next year will be very interesting as there will be two T1 nations in Scotland and Japan looking to make their way back up to the JWC.

Here’s another two options.

4. The hybrid model – a mix between club and NRC. Based off numbers (Shute = 12, Hospitals = 9) Top 3 from Sydney and Top 2 from Brisbane qualify for a 10 team NRC alongside a rep squad from each of those competitions designed to capture any pros and emerging talent not affiliated with the 5 qualifying clubs alongside a rep squad from each of the other 3 SR bases. Single round robin for 9 rounds plus finals. Eleven weeks in total.

5. Pacific Rugby Championship – Do a Fijian Drua but this time include both Samoa and Tonga alongside the 5 franchises sans their Wallabies in a 9 week structure featuring 7 rounds plus finals or if possible 10 rounds (split into two pools of 4 home and away in pool plus a game against each of the teams from the other pool. Single table with a top 4 final series) plus finals for 12 weeks.

And then signed about 12 foreign players to play in Super Rugby Americas. Contrary to the work of fiction Glendale wish to present they withdrew because they couldn’t compete in terms of $ with the rest of the league and were rapidly losing their edge which for years had been the only real destination with access to professional facilities and coaching for players.

A combination of parties including the JRFU. They didn’t want to continue with the participation fee. While others wanted to go in different directions. Notably Sth Africa to the NH.

A hybrid model perhaps. Top 3 from Sydney and Top 2 from Brisbane (based off number of clubs) and then a rep squad from each to capture talent not aligned with the qualifying clubs. That’s 7. Then a rep squad from Canberra, Melbourne and Perth. I think that would provide a good mix of inclusion and opportunity. Better than a strict Shute/Hospitals Cup crossover.

Not all of SANZAAR. The Aus franchises were pretty upset with the Sunwolves axing having spent that time building relationships with then Top League teams.

I’ve not seen any suggestion that the RC or 6Ns would be counted toward this. If so then I’m totally against it. Not because of the sanctity of these competitions but because that pretty much eliminates the chance of promotion/relegation as none of these Unions are going to want to lose access to either.

This is frustratingly poorly thought out. There are several different model that could be employed that would provide more opportunity and access using the current July/November windows without including the 6Ns and RC. You could go with 16. Run two 8 team divisions with a balance of 4 Europe and 4 RoTW. Play each of you in division opponents with the top team from each playing in a final with the rest playing in rankings games. This would work if you run it annually. If it’s run over a two year period you could split it into 4 pools of 4. Home and away in pool and the a game against a team from each of the other pools with the November window of the 2nd year operating as the finals series employing a similar progressive system as 7s with each team depending on results falling into a Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield category. With the losers of the four semi’s in the 3rd week playing to determine rankings in the fourth weekend with the 16th team being automatically relegated.

Hell, you could run a 20 team structure using my first two division suggestion but running it over two years. Playing everyone in your division once for 9 games (so three each in July and November of year 1 and 3 in July of year 2) Top four from division through to the Cup in once again the same progressive finals model as before.

That is true but their season has been very intentionally aligned to operate more along that of SRP than the NH. Same for Super Rugby Americas. One of them will absolutely be Japan. Recently upgraded to T1 and a wealthy economy. They’re a lock. The States are a chance. Could definitely see the prospect of selling out a number of West Coast facilities (San Diego would for sure) being alluring and seeing as they will be hosting the RWC in 2031 I can see WR being keen on them getting more games to build into that event. Which is why, while actually liking the basic idea behind the concept I really dislike this constant narrow implementation. Go with 16 and mix it with competitiveness and financial consideration. Reward the likes of Georgia for their graft and progress. Recognize the contribution of the PIs to the game by having all 3 involved and if you want a big economy then add the Eagles. Though the likes of Uruguay and Chile would be justifiably upset with that one.

Which is why they might as well go with 16 to start to create that buffer zone. Even use a playoff game between divisions if they still feel insecure. I haven’t seen anything suggesting that their the 6Ns or RC will be integrated if so then none of these teams risk losing that.

Not until 2030 apparently.

Could provide an interesting opportunity to expand it to 24 teams to bring both divisions together.