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Ian McGeechan's 10-point plan to revitalise rugby trumps Clive Woodward's proposal
Ex-Lions boss Ian McGeechan has unveiled his ten-point plan to revitalise rugby now that there is a mood for change amid the coronavirus pandemic-enforced stoppage of the sport. Delegates are currently voting in the World Rugby chairman election race that is being contested by current incumbent Bill Beaumont and Agustin Pichot, who was vice-chairman the past four years.
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Former England coach Clive Woodward unwrapped his own ten-point plan to rejuvenate the sport last week and now McGeechan, the ex-Scotland boss who led the Lions to their 1997 Test series victory in South Africa, has written down his thoughts on what needs to happen to make rugby a more joined-up sport in the coming years.
Woodward’s ideas very much stemmed from the current election contest, the 2003 World Cup winner aghast that every voting member from around the world hadn’t the inclination to find the opportunity during the coronavirus pandemic to hold a video call with Beaumont and Pichot to discuss their respective manifestos. It left Woodward calling on delegates to open their minds and vote for the good of World Rugby, not just self-interest.
In contrast, McGeechan largely steered clear of the election in outlining his plan. Placing particular emphasis on better aligning the different schedules that exist either side of the equator, McGeechan believed a nine-month season with three breaks for players and the standardising of all leading club leagues into 14-team events would be a major step forward.
Writing in his weekly Telegraph column, McGeechan said: “Rather than a non-stop season followed by a long summer break, it would be better to throw in three four-week rest windows through the year. The players would train through them anyway, just as they do in the summer now. But mentally as much as physically it’s important to rest regularly.
This would be quite an intriguing alliance https://t.co/cVrGdeh027
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 28, 2020
“A nine-month season, with three proper breaks spaced through the year, would allow for a 40-game season (ten internationals in two blocks of five, and a 30-game club season covering domestic/Europe) and still give players adequate time off. Players could work on a maximum 35-game involvement.”
Aligning the global rugby calendar would be a necessary step to make that idea come to fruition, though. “It would be good to get a nine-month season, with clearly delineated club windows and international windows,” he continued. “Two international windows is fine.
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“One in the spring when you can get the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship (with Japan added to it) played. And another in the autumn, when you can mix and match and get tier one playing tier two. With no club games getting in the way, why not also have tier one A teams/B teams/regional teams playing against tier two and tier three nations in that second window? Clearly, World Cups and Lions tours will require slight tweaks to the calendar every other year. But it’s not insurmountable.”
McGeechan wrapped up his ideas on a synchronistic rugby year by dwelling on the current club situation. “If you’re creating a truly synchronised game, it makes sense to run the big four leagues on the same dates at the same times. The Top 14 in France and the Pro14 already are 14-club leagues. Super Rugby (currently 15) and the Premiership (12) could follow suit. You could then have two conferences of seven, with playoffs at the end of the season.”
Other points raised by McGeechan included holding a tier two World Cup at the same time as the World Cup, setting up a World Club Challenge and streamlining the European tournaments, getting tier one countries playing against tier two nations on a more regular basis, and giving tier two nations the chance to field their best players.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
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