There have been rumours circulating, and reports in The Times, that World Rugby and the powers-that-be are close to agreeing some changes to the annual Rugby calendar.
There had been talk of moving the Six Nations, but that looks likely to stay where it is – obviously some traditions are too old to change. However, the Aviva Premiership, Guinness Pro12 and Top 14 are considering shifting their seasons to better align with Super Rugby by finishing in June (although they’d likely start in October, rather than February, like Super Rugby). The Top 14 currently begins in August and ends in June, but they are apparently considering moving to a conference format, expanded to 32 sides and four conferences of 8 teams each.
The annual summer tours (or the Lions Tour) would then move back to July, but once every four years after a Rugby World Cup, there could be a World Club Championship instead of the tours, pitting the top European clubs against the best of Super Rugby.
Part of the plans would also see clearer blocks of matches for each competition, rather than the regular back and forth from domestic, to European, to international matches that we endure now.
Presumably the Autumn Internationals would remain, so it’s not entirely clear how that fits the plan of less chopping and changing between competitions, if the domestic seasons begin in October.
There are obviously still plenty of issues to iron out, and it feels like someone will spot the hole in the accounts if fewer internationals are played, but World Rugby discussions will continue in November, and there could be plans on the table by the end of the year.
It’s not quite the radical ‘global season’ that has been mooted previously, but it feels like a step in the right direction if some sort of consensus can be reached.
What do you think of these proposals?
If fixtures can be broken down into:
Level 1 – International
Level 2 – Continental
Level 3 – Domestic
Players on this continent play too many level 3 fixtures, with a maximum of 22+2 or 26+3 in France. In comparison there are 6+3 Level 2 games and a maximum of 13 Level 1 games (4+5+4) in a given season.
Taking the 16/17 season (and ignoring the fact that it’s a Lions year), an English club player who was selected in the EPS would be available for 12 tests, 6 regular season continental games and 15 regular season club games. Even without getting to the knock-out stages, verging on too many at 33, and around 45% of those are Level 3 games.
Without addressing this, we can’t really talk about player welfare, and dropping a summer tour for a Club World Championship isn’t going to help.
I think our only answer is to fully mimic the Southern Hemisphere season, and play a European Super Rugby type competition from Feb – June, summer tours in July, Six Nations / Rugby Championship in August/September, AIs in October, 2 months off in November and December and pre-season in January, with a domestic competition shadowing the International season.
In this model, you’d get the same 12 tests, more Level 2 games and a number of Level 3 games, but with limited involvement by International players.
This move brings us closer to the global season, but I worry that we are giving more to the clubs with the CWC and the International game is making concessions.
I agree, and the Clubs are pushing for more games. The only caveat is that the premier club competition in South Africa is losing spectators without much international player involvement.
I wrote this last year about mimicking the SH season:
https://therugbyblog.com/blueprint-for-a-new-northern-hemisphere-season-structure
There are a few flaws obviously, but I think we need a radical change rather than tinkering at the edges with all sorts of compromises.
It’s a good point that I hadn’t really considered
In Europe
Level 1 = Internationals / 6 Nations (Nov 3-4, 6N 5, Jun 3-4, Total 11-13)
Level 2 = Challenge Cup / Champions Cup (Group 6, KO 3, Total 6-9)
Level 3 = Aviva Prem / Pro 12 / Top 14 (League 22-26, KO 2-3, Total 22-29)
Level 4 = LV Cup / Other (Group 4, KO 2, Total 4-6)
In SH
Level 1 = International / Rugby Championship (Nov 3-4, RC 6-7, Jun 3-4, Total 12-15)
Level 2 = Super Rugby (Group 17, KO 3, Total 17-20)
Level 3 = Mitre10 / Currie Cup / Whatever Aussie version is (Group 12, KO 2, Total 12-14)
Problem is In Europe there are too many teams to make it work like Super Rugby
Also the lines are a bit more blurry in the NH than SH as the standard in the challenge cup can be very weak while games between the top teams in Level 3 are as intense as a Level 2 game
Also worth mentioning that the SH model is better in terms of burnout too
Top International SH players involved in max 20 SR matches and 12-15 Internationals total 32-35 games per year 18-21 weeks off a year
Weaker SH players would be involved in both Level 2&3 so 34 games per season
Top International European players involved in max 24 domestic (or international if called up), 9 European, 3-4 summer internationals 36-37 games per year 15-16 weeks off a year
Top French team players could be involved in max 29 domestic (or international if called up), 9 European, 3 summer internationals a whooping 41 games per year with only 11 weeks off
I think this is stupid. This is a sign of money moving the competitions to fit the elites controlling it. We should be doing the opposite. There is rich rich history in rugby, the six nations etc we should leave it as is.
The IRB is up the arse of the All Blacks and everyone has to fit their way, I say naw.
It is aw about making the game more and more wimp like.