World Rugby - We will upend the entire sport to prevent South Africa joining the 6Ns

[Paddington Bear]

Telegraph suggests a world league of sorts is all but confirmed:

Rugby chiefs have agreed a new world league blueprint that will see a northern versus southern hemisphere ‘grand final’ every two years, as well as the ringfencing of the Six Nations Championship, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

The new league structure, which will only include games that take place in the summer and autumn windows, is set to be introduced from 2026 and will be formed by two groups of six teams from each hemisphere – namely the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides, wth Japan and Fiji also expected to be included.

The new format means that:

The current format of the Six Nations Championship will be ring-fenced, ending any hope South Africa held of joining the European competition or for the introduction of promotion and relegation.
Northern hemisphere sides will play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, bringing to an end the traditional summer tours of two or three Tests against one host country.
The fixtures will be replicated at the home venues of the northern hemisphere nations in the November window, with the top team from each pool facing each other in a grand final, and ranking play-off games for the others.
The tournament will be held every two years from 2026, with fixtures rotated so that every side plays against each other over a two-tournament cycle
From 2030, a promotion and relegation could be introduced to provide a pathway from a second-tier competition which is expected to be launched next year for nations including Georgia, Samoa and Tonga.
All stakeholders are confident it will not diminish the status of the Rugby World Cup, and it will be marketed as a battle of the hemispheres.
The future of the British and Irish Lions tours will be secured and in Lions years countries able to stage traditional tours as normal, and include more fixtures against tier two countries to enhance their development.
It is understood that negotiations, which began in March 2020, are now entering a final consultation phase with the clubs and players’ representatives to ensure it has complete alignment and buy-in for a newly structured global season.

Senior sources have indicated that the new league is on course to be unveiled by the start of the Rugby World Cup in France this September.


“The fundamentals have been agreed,” said one source close to the negotiations. "All key stakeholders have been involved and the structure of the season, the rugby and player welfare issues were resolved some time ago. It's just tying down some of the outstanding commercial issues, but we are well advanced on those as well. We are just about over the line."

The stakeholders, which have included World Rugby and players' representatives, hope that by adding a competitive narrative to the summer and autumn Test series, there will be a significant uplift in the broadcasting and commercial values for both hemispheres.


The Six Nations already aggregated their broadcasting and commercial revenues as part of a deal known as ‘Project Light’ which would make a similar arrangement with their Sanzaar counterparts.

Central to the negotiations from the northern hemisphere perspective was excluding the Six Nations from the new world league, which proved to be the major stumbling block of talks about the failed ‘Nations Championship’ concept in 2019.

“It was imperative that we didn’t mess around one of the major crown jewels of the game and risked that for a very hypothetical benefit,” said another senior source.

“South Africa made public their interest in joining the Six Nations, but it was never up for discussion. We have never entertained expansion.

“This has been about finding an appropriate solution on the July and November windows, if we can do that it will be perfect development on the global scale for the game and find right equilibrium for the international game going forward.

“The new tournament will add a competitive north -v south narrative, which will not affect the World Cup or Lions tours and there is also the possibility for emerging nations to participate in it through a development phase below so that there could be some, some pathway between the two at some point would be in the great interest of the game.


“All the stakeholders have been involved so there are no surprises for anyone.”

One of the details still under discussion include the possibility of staging the grand final at a high-profile neutral venue to enhance the profile of the league and grow a new audience, with Hong Kong one possibility.

It is understood one of the outstanding issues is also the timing of the Rugby Championship in the new global season.

“Anything that improves the experience, the narrative should drive value for the fans and if it does then there will be incremental value for the game, not just in our nations but beyond,” added another source. “This will be critical to help fund the game to compete with other sports and other forms of entertainment.”

[Ymx]

This sounds like poop.

Northern hemisphere sides will play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, bringing to an end the traditional summer tours of two or three Tests against one host country.

The fixtures will be replicated at the home venues of the northern hemisphere nations in the November window, with the top team from each pool facing each other in a grand final, and ranking play-off games for the others.

I love the down under tours. How good was New Zealand v Ireland. It means a hell of a lot more to follow a tour and win a tour. Than the shitty speed dating Autumn Internationals.

[Paddington Bear]

This sounds like poop.

Northern hemisphere sides will play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, bringing to an end the traditional summer tours of two or three Tests against one host country.

The fixtures will be replicated at the home venues of the northern hemisphere nations in the November window, with the top team from each pool facing each other in a grand final, and ranking play-off games for the others.

I love the down under tours. How good was New Zealand v Ireland. It means a hell of a lot more to follow a tour and win a tour. Than the shitty speed dating Autumn Internationals.

Yeah I thought there was a degree of consensus that hopping round the SH had contributed to tired NH teams getting battered on summer tours.

[PornDog]

Northern hemisphere sides will play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, bringing to an end the traditional summer tours of two or three Tests against one host country.

[sockwithaticket]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

[SaintK]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

Agreed. It's absolute bollocks. Also the ticket prices for the likes of Georgia, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are way lower and means that a family day out at Twickenham to see an international match is much more afordable

[Sandstorm]

This sounds like poop.

Northern hemisphere sides will play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, bringing to an end the traditional summer tours of two or three Tests against one host country.

The fixtures will be replicated at the home venues of the northern hemisphere nations in the November window, with the top team from each pool facing each other in a grand final, and ranking play-off games for the others.

I love the down under tours. How good was New Zealand v Ireland. It means a hell of a lot more to follow a tour and win a tour. Than the shitty speed dating Autumn Internationals.

Yeah I thought there was a degree of consensus that hopping round the SH had contributed to tired NH teams getting battered on summer tours.

Never mind that, it goes against the global desire to reduce air travel in the future. Teams will be criss-crossing the Indian Ocean like there's no Greta.

[Mahoney]

So which is the gold standard competition now? This league with its bi-annual final, or the World Cup?

Having both seems daft. There's only about 4 teams in with a realistic shout at winning either competition at any given time. And we'll get 3 finals in every 4 year cycle. How batshit is that?

[Brazil]

The current format of the Six Nations Championship will be ring-fenced, ending any hope South Africa held of joining the European competition or for the introduction of promotion and relegation.
Northern hemisphere sides will play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, bringing to an end the traditional summer tours of two or three Tests against one host country.
The fixtures will be replicated at the home venues of the northern hemisphere nations in the November window, with the top team from each pool facing each other in a grand final, and ranking play-off games for the others.
The tournament will be held every two years from 2026, with fixtures rotated so that every side plays against each other over a two-tournament cycle

Well that sounds wank.

[_Os_]

For me the big problem with this suggestion last time was forcing Japan and Fiji into the RC. Which means turning it into a poor mans 6N, the Boks would play Japan/Fiji/Pumas/Wallabies/ABs all once each. It would be perfectly possible to only get one or two decent games out of that, which may or may not be in SA. It would risk making it go the same way as Super Rugby, where the teams are spread over four continents, the travel is immense (Japan is in the NH and on the other side of the world from SA), and the content becomes lower quality. It's already been proven South Africans stop caring about the competition in that scenario. I know for a fact when there's two matches a weekend and the quality is likely to be good, South Africans watch both. The opposite will happen if Japan and Fiji are added, South Africans will start only watching the Boks and not bother with the rest, then go off the comp entirely.

If the RC doesn't remain only Boks/ABs/Pumas/Wallabies, playing eachother twice. Then this deal is a fuck up.

If Japan and Fiji are forced into the RC. Then it would be better if the NH tours to the SH were ended entirely and the Boks/ABs/Pumas/Wallabies played alternating test series every July (so over three seasons each plays a test series against eachother), so we can still get some extended game time against decent opponents in something meaningful.

[Grandpa]

I'd like a bigger Rugby Championship. Took ages to get Argentina in... and they have been a breath of fresh air... Ring fencing isn't ideal for growing the sport... The Six Nations need Georgia and the like involved too... grow the game.

I hope they get this development phase going... we've ignored the 2nd tier nations for too long...

“The new tournament will add a competitive north -v south narrative, which will not affect the World Cup or Lions tours and there is also the possibility for emerging nations to participate in it through a development phase below so that there could be some, some pathway between the two at some point would be in the great interest of the game.

[Line6 HXFX]

Seems the Northern Hemisphere international teams are only in existence to keep their Southern hemispheres rugby counterparts well paid, fed and in jobs,.

Lions Tours (Down South).
Autumn Internationals.
Summer Tours (Down South).
World Cups (against SH teams).

All these years and years (120 odd) of doing it and the only real rivalry you can shake a stick at, and is worth a shit is England v Australia.

[_Os_]

I'd like a bigger Rugby Championship. Took ages to get Argentina in... and they have been a breath of fresh air... Ring fencing isn't ideal for growing the sport... The Six Nations need Georgia and the like involved too... grow the game.

Because Aus and NZ were opposed to the Pumas, SA was always the most keen on the Argies. The season before the Pumas joined a hole was made in the TN window for the Boks to play the Pumas, Wallabies to play Japan, ABs to play a PI side. From memory only the Boks v Pumas match happened. Aus have always been the most keen on Japan, but then refused to have Japan in their Super Rugby conference which meant Japan being in SA's conference (when Japan is on the other side of the world from SA). Japan also weren't in the new Super Rugby format, so Aus is keen on Japan until they have to pay for it. NZ have always been the most keen on the PIs.

All this sounds good until you have a Homer Simpson clown car tournament no one is interested in. There's not much evidence Japan and Fiji are capable of going four rounds against Boks/ABs/Pumas/Wallabies every season. Super Rugby's death hurt the Argies the most, nothing has replaced Super Rugby for them, there has to be doubts they can maintain their current level without any suitable pro domestic comp. Potentially it's a 6 team tournament with 3 Italy level sides.

I expect much like Super Rugby the TV rights were calculated on projecting current viewing figures. But if it turns out South Africans only watch the Boks during the RC going forward, then those numbers end up holed below the waterline.

[Jim Lahey]

Sounds shit.

[pjm1]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

Only Fiji and Japan have been getting tier 1 games recently though. Georgia played Uruguay, Samoa and Wales in 2022.

[Mr Tim Buktoo]

Ranking play off games FFS.
More nonsense from world rugby trying to destroy the game.

[Biffer]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

Only Fiji and Japan have been getting tier 1 games recently though. Georgia played Uruguay, Samoa and Wales in 2022.

Samoa also played Italy last Autumn. So Samoa, Japan, Fiji and Georgia all had games against six nations or RC teams in the autumn. Last summer Portugal, Georgia and Romania played Italy, and Japan played France twice. I make that 12 T1 v T2 games. Could be better, but not as bad as you're portraying it. The two previous years were covid affected so not really a reasonable example.

Unless of course that whole post was a fishing trip for the Welsh. In which case I withdraw all of this and agree with you most wholeheartedly.

[sockwithaticket]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

Only Fiji and Japan have been getting tier 1 games recently though. Georgia played Uruguay, Samoa and Wales in 2022.

I see what you did there.

Georgia played France, Scotland and South Africa in 2021,

2020's kind of special because of the cobbled together covid tournaments, but they did play all of the home nations as a result.

[Slick]

All key stakeholders have been involved and the structure of the season, the rugby and player welfare issues were resolved some time ago. It's just tying down some of the outstanding commercial issues, but we are well advanced on those as well. ."

Lies, lies, lies, ahh there we go

[sockwithaticket]

I'd like a bigger Rugby Championship. Took ages to get Argentina in... and they have been a breath of fresh air... Ring fencing isn't ideal for growing the sport... The Six Nations need Georgia and the like involved too... grow the game.

I hope they get this development phase going... we've ignored the 2nd tier nations for too long...

“The new tournament will add a competitive north -v south narrative, which will not affect the World Cup or Lions tours and there is also the possibility for emerging nations to participate in it through a development phase below so that there could be some, some pathway between the two at some point would be in the great interest of the game.

We need them? Why?

The 6N teams frequently play the Islanders, Japan, Georgia and even semi-regularly the US and Canada, so who is it that's been ignoring Tier 2? If anything this new format is going to reduce the number of tests T1 plays against T2.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

All key stakeholders have been involved and the structure of the season, the rugby and player welfare issues were resolved some time ago. It's just tying down some of the outstanding commercial issues, but we are well advanced on those as well. ."

Lies, lies, lies, ahh there we go

Or they have a different and particular take on who the key stakeholders are

[Monk]

I don’t want the Boks playing in the 6 Nations and I don’t like the look of this competition.

Smacks of people making changes merely because they can.

[Grandpa]

All so negative. I'm going to give it a chance and see what happens. Until we see it in action it's difficult to be highly for, or against... It's basically keeping the same model as now, except giving test friendlies a bit more meaning, rather than standalone tests.

[Slick]

I'm looking forward to a packed Murrayfield for the 7/8th place play off match

[Biffer]

All so negative. I'm going to give it a chance and see what happens. Until we see it in action it's difficult to be highly for, or against... It's basically keeping the same model as now, except giving test friendlies a bit more meaning, rather than standalone tests.

I don't see any way that this competition could reproduce the intensity of the NZ / Ireland three match test series from last year.

[_Os_]

I don’t want the Boks playing in the 6 Nations and I don’t like the look of this competition.

Smacks of people making changes merely because they can.

Growth is chased above all else. JM Coetzee wrote about this after the 1995 RWC.

Problem is rugby isn't soccer, the infinite growth model doesn't really work. Not enough people are interested and/or the teams aren't good enough. This is made obvious by how tier 2 tournaments struggle commercially, soccer doesn't need to throw its best teams from Asia/South America/Africa into one competition with the best Australasian sides. Rugby tends to be a traditional sport of small ethnic groups, or a sport that's the preserve of the upper class/middle class. It's not true that Fiji and Japan get added to the RC and suddenly the game has "grown" and those teams improve. If "growth" is based on the degree of proximity to 8 sides (5N and 3N), it's the same as saying there cannot be any growth and things will become less appealing for supporters of those 8 sides. It's interesting where the growth logic is applied also, places where there's actual growth potential (Africa, North America, South America, Europe outside the 6N), don't get much of a look in. It would be regarded as ridiculous to add Uruguay or Namibia to the RC, but adding Fiji looks like it's going to happen, when both Uruguay and Namibia have much larger populations than Fiji and any of those three would lose a lot in the RC.

[PornDog]

I'm looking forward to a packed Murrayfield for the 7/8th place play off match

no, no - you're massively under playing the crazy - that will be played at a neutral venue I'll have you know!

[GogLais]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

Only Fiji and Japan have been getting tier 1 games recently though. Georgia played Uruguay, Samoa and Wales in 2022.

I see what you did there.

I was somewhat perplexed for a moment, I get it now.

[Sandstorm]

I'm looking forward to a packed Murrayfield for the 7/8th place play off match

no, no - you're massively under playing the crazy - that will be played at a neutral venue I'll have you know!

In Luxembourg. Growing the Game.

[Hal Jordan]

I'm looking forward to a packed Murrayfield for the 7/8th place play off match

no, no - you're massively under playing the crazy - that will be played at a neutral venue I'll have you know!

In Luxembourg. Growing the Game.

Somebody has to entertain the CVC stakeholders.

[Sandstorm]

no, no - you're massively under playing the crazy - that will be played at a neutral venue I'll have you know!

In Luxembourg. Growing the Game.

Somebody has to entertain the CVC stakeholders.

It all makes sense now.

[pjm1]

Only Fiji and Japan have been getting tier 1 games recently though. Georgia played Uruguay, Samoa and Wales in 2022.

I see what you did there.

I was somewhat perplexed for a moment, I get it now.

yeah sorry, couldn't resist. Didn't mean to sow confusion, just a bit of light heartedness

[LoveOfTheGame]

Shit^3.

A small silver lining is that it will keep the Springboks out of the 6N, so we at least have that.

[westport]

I'm looking forward to a packed Murrayfield for the 7/8th place play off match

no, no - you're massively under playing the crazy - that will be played at a neutral venue I'll have you know!

In Luxembourg. Growing the Game.

They are playing the 7's finals in Madrid, in the middle of summer, from next year so I am sure the good people of Luxembourg will enjoy their day out.

[Slick]

Shit^3.

A small silver lining is that it will keep the Springboks out of the 6N, so we at least have that.

TBF, 6N is all I really care about so, yeah, they can do what they want

[Torquemada 1420]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

WR shafting the very nations it claims to be helping to develop? Who'd have thunk it?

I'm with you. It's yet another artificial attempt to generate meaning and interest.

[Biffer]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

WR shafting the very nations it claims to be helping to develop? Who'd have thunk it?

I'm with you. It's yet another artificial attempt to generate meaning and interest.

The best way to generate meaning would be to promote multi game test series between the better nations. I don't know what's on the cards for next summer but can you imagine the hype around a South Africa v Ireland 3 test series, Or NZ v France? Or dare I say it, Scotland v Australia given how tight they've been for the last ten years?

[Torquemada 1420]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

WR shafting the very nations it claims to be helping to develop? Who'd have thunk it?

I'm with you. It's yet another artificial attempt to generate meaning and interest.

The best way to generate meaning would be to promote multi game test series between the better nations. I don't know what's on the cards for next summer but can you imagine the hype around a South Africa v Ireland 3 test series, Or NZ v France? Or dare I say it, Scotland v Australia given how tight they've been for the last ten years?

The problem with that it only really allows for one opponent in the Summer which means it could be years before that happens next between 2 "better nations" who might not even be the better nations by then. Commercial factors would mean NZ would never want to play anyone other than big money shots because that's all they've ever done. France has played Fiji twice as many times than NZ and yet NZ is next door.

I'd rather series involving 3 teams playing a round robin and ensuring that 1 has to be a developing nation.

[Paddington Bear]

It's shit and I hate it. Test rugby didn't need to be forced into a league structure to make it meaningful.

Also seems to create a situation where only Fiji and Japan definitely get games against tier 1 opposition, which is a step down from our current international calendar where Georgia have been in the Autumn rotation and get at least 1 game each season. Similarly Tonga and Samoa have long been staples of the Autumn tests

WR shafting the very nations it claims to be helping to develop? Who'd have thunk it?

I'm with you. It's yet another artificial attempt to generate meaning and interest.

The best way to generate meaning would be to promote multi game test series between the better nations. I don't know what's on the cards for next summer but can you imagine the hype around a South Africa v Ireland 3 test series, Or NZ v France? Or dare I say it, Scotland v Australia given how tight they've been for the last ten years?

Sky seemed to love their 'the Decider' weekend this summer, and purely anecdotally it was the first time ever my cricket club had shown non-England/Lions international rugby matches.

[Dan54]

For me the big problem with this suggestion last time was forcing Japan and Fiji into the RC. Which means turning it into a poor mans 6N, the Boks would play Japan/Fiji/Pumas/Wallabies/ABs all once each. It would be perfectly possible to only get one or two decent games out of that, which may or may not be in SA. It would risk making it go the same way as Super Rugby, where the teams are spread over four continents, the travel is immense (Japan is in the NH and on the other side of the world from SA), and the content becomes lower quality. It's already been proven South Africans stop caring about the competition in that scenario. I know for a fact when there's two matches a weekend and the quality is likely to be good, South Africans watch both. The opposite will happen if Japan and Fiji are added, South Africans will start only watching the Boks and not bother with the rest, then go off the comp entirely.

If the RC doesn't remain only Boks/ABs/Pumas/Wallabies, playing eachother twice. Then this deal is a fuck up.

If Japan and Fiji are forced into the RC. Then it would be better if the NH tours to the SH were ended entirely and the Boks/ABs/Pumas/Wallabies played alternating test series every July (so over three seasons each plays a test series against eachother), so we can still get some extended game time against decent opponents in something meaningful.

There's no reason to force anyone into RC Os, the 6Ns and RC don't count towards qualifying as far as I can see, will just be the NH teams touring that will be where quaiifying is done. Don't know if I like it or not yet as haven't thought heavily on it.