The Q&A document explaining what the new World 12s is all about
World 12s have issued a lengthy question and answer document explaining how a new tournament kicking off in August 2022 in England can aspire to bring £250million of new financial stimulus into the global game over the next five years while attracting a new global fanbase interested in a different type of from the 15s game.
Q. What is World 12s?
World 12s is a new rugby union tournament for our changing, fast-paced world. It’s an exciting format featuring the world’s best players. The players will be split into eight franchised teams and will compete annually around the world in a 12v12 tournament over a three-week period.
Q. What is the difference between 12s and 15s?
World 12s will follow the current Laws of 15s, but with a few exciting adaptations:
- 12 players in a team – six forwards and six backs
- 15-minute halves
- Conversions will be drop goals only
- Only one scrum reset, followed by a free-kick
- Scrum infringements are penalised by a differential penalty (a penalty that cannot be kicked at goal)
- In the knockout stages, if matches are tied at full time, a golden point will decide the winner
Q. How will a typical tournament work?
For the 2022 men’s tournament, eight franchised teams will play each other once in a round-robin format. There will be seven round-robin match days, where four matches will be played per day. The knockout stages will be split into semi-finals day, and a finals day to decide how teams are ranked from first to eighth.
Q. How does 12s work in terms of playing positions?
There are six forwards and six backs. The extra space created by having three fewer players across the pitch allows both the opportunity for running rugby and exciting tactical kicking, depending on how a coach chooses to align their backline. This will lead to a high scoring, high pressure and attractive rugby being played, whilst keeping the shape and a semblance of the structure of 15s.
The inaugural World 12s tournament aims to see 192 of the world’s best male players from tier one and tier two nations selected via auction to represent eight franchised teams https://t.co/7EGkRlx99G
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 7, 2021
Q. How many players are in each squad?
Each squad will be made up of 24 players. To help boost the development of the global game, each franchise will be required to select at least two players from Tier Two nations as well as one international Under-20s player.
Q. Where will World 12s be played?
The plan is to move the tournament to different global locations each year. It is anticipated that England will be the first host nation in 2022.
Q. When will World 12s be played?
Discussions continue with key stakeholders, but we see late August/early September being the suitable window to host this three-week tournament in 2022. World 12s aims to complement the existing global rugby calendar.
Q. Who are the teams?
The eight franchised teams will be decided by auction which will take place later this year. The franchised teams will be determined by geographical location and subject to World 12s criteria, with a keen focus to develop homegrown players as well as improve participation from emerging nations.
Q. Who is going to play?
The world’s best players will be sold at an auction and bought by the franchised teams. Each team will have a playing squad of 24 players.
Q. How will the players be selected?
Players will be selected via auction. The player auction will follow a similar format to the draft seen in cricket’s IPL or The Hundred. The eight franchised teams will be able to buy players to make up their team. More information about the franchise and player auctions will be announced in due course.
Q. When is the player auction?
We are looking at the early stages of 2022.
Q. What is World 12s doing to address player welfare?
Player welfare is critical to the success of World 12s. We have introduced a number of key changes to assist the players in their rugby careers. Some of these include match duration and game time. Each match will last 30 minutes and there will be a restriction on the amount of game time per player. We are also committed to being the best-researched rugby tournament in the world and World 12s will offer an excellent platform for the sport to investigate issues that truly matter for the welfare of the players.
12-a-side.
Global Superstars.
Rugby's Brightest Minds.
You love to see it.Find out more at https://t.co/qksdJ1RgTs 🌍🏉#World12s #Rugby pic.twitter.com/A6rRrlqJmY
— World 12s (@World12s) September 7, 2021
Q. Is there a plan for a women’s version of World 12s?
Yes. With Rugby World Cup 2021 now taking place in New Zealand in 2022, the women’s format of World 12s will launch from 2023 and will be played in tandem with the men’s tournament.
Q. What is World 12s Limited?
World 12s Limited is a newly formed international company established in the summer of 2020 to run a new professional franchised global 12s tournament. World 12s Limited has assembled a board and executive team with a wealth of rugby experience from around the globe, complemented with commercial experience from within other elite sports and the wider corporate world.
Q. How can I get more information on World 12s?
To ensure you have the best chance to find out all the latest information about World 12s, sign up to hear more on the World 12s website.
'Each team can have a ‘2-minute titan’ who can be used at any point to give you a brief one-player advantage – they enter the fray to a fanfare & wear a special scrum cap.' @SamRobertsComms 👨💻 begs rugby to learn something, anything from @thehundred https://t.co/woh1TvAPz5
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 29, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
To be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
4 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
1 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
4 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
4 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
96 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
96 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
96 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
96 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
96 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
96 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
96 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
96 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
96 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
96 Go to comments