It is Europe where Six Nations should be looking for growth... not South Africa
It was always going to take something rather significant to get Saracens out of the headlines this season, although few likely expected the prospect of South Africa joining the Guinness Six Nations to be the story that would finally do it.
In fairness, there has been a slight shift in focus in South African rugby of late with the Cheetahs and Southern Kings having decamped to Europe and joined the Guinness PRO14.
But the perception had been that SA Rugby and the Springboks were happy at the international level as part of the annual Rugby Championship tournament with New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
If more movement to Europe were to occur, it seemed more likely that it would be the remaining Super Rugby sides – the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls and Lions – making the transition, or potentially one or two Currie Cup sides, joining the Cheetahs and the Kings in the cross-hemisphere PRO14.
But money, more than any other element, dictates professional sport and it is fair to say that South African rugby is not currently in the most fortuitous financial position.
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RPA warns of a mass player revolt over Seven Nations plot
With broadcast deals accounting for the largest slice of a union or club’s income, South Africa’s position close to Greenwich meridian does not help it garner the TV revenues from Australia and New Zealand that it would like. Much closer in time to the UK, however, South African rugby is located nicely to make the most of prime-time broadcast slots in Western Europe.
The appeal for the Springboks is obvious and arguably goes beyond financial incentives., The Rugby Championship has taken its fair amount of flak in recent seasons, while the intensity and spectacle of the Six Nations – if not always the skill levels – continues to surpass that of its southern hemisphere rival.
Similarly, the lure for the Six Nations is also obvious. The Springboks are reigning World Cup champions and are a year-on-year big-ticket in rugby. Their addition to the tournament would be fascinating, to say the least.
Eddie Jones is warning against an expansion of the Six Nations #GuinnessSixNations https://t.co/gFCWqSwCoN
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The proposal faces its fair share of logistical issues with flights to South Africa taking over ten hours from London Heathrow, not to mention the extension of the tournament in games and duration and the reintroduction of bye weeks. But the Springboks are an established rugby nation and an easy boost for the Six Nations, not that one is necessarily currently needed.
The longer game – and the one the Six Nations should be playing – is furthering the growth of rugby outside of the traditional powerhouse nations. Fans have long clamoured for Georgia’s introduction to the Six Nations, especially with Italy’s waning fortunes of late, while Japan are another northern hemisphere nation that have shown themselves to be ready for an introduction to an annual tier one competition.
Both these nations have their drawbacks, most notably Georgia’s economy is not the potential gold mine the members of the Six Nations would presumably like in the tournament, while there are even more logistical issues involved with Japan than there are with South Africa given the drastically different time zone and a slightly longer flight.
The RFU have stamped on this particular Sunday morning story. https://t.co/ESxACMSVDB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 9, 2020
Where the Six Nations’ efforts should be concentrated are in Europe. The competition sits on the doorstep of a number of large economies, all of whom are conveniently located in terms of travel duration and time zones for preferable broadcast slots.
In many of these nations, football is king and the national sport as it is all over the world now, but there is room for growth for rugby union as potentially the second or third sport in those countries, just as it is in most of rugby’s traditional strongholds.
The Rugby Europe Championship is currently taking place and after two rounds of competition, Georgia and Portugal sit atop the pile with both nations still undefeated. Spain have beaten recent World Cup side Russia and put up a strong challenge to Georgia this past weekend. Belgium also have a win to their name, while the Russians and Romania both struggle at the bottom of the table and are winless in their opening two games.
The trio of Georgia, Spain and Portugal have all profited from successful age-grade sides and they are three nations, unlike Romania, Russia and even Scotland to a certain extent, that are trending upwards at a noticeable rate.
In the tier below that, the Netherlands are looking strong at the top of the Trophy and they too have benefitted from an uptick in the quality of players coming through their age-grade pathway with a number set to make a significant impact in the Top 14 over the next few years. Germany are a little further off the pace in that division, but with large investment beginning to come in, they are a nation to keep an eye on over the coming years.
The Rugby Europe umbrella also boasts a thriving under-20s scene and women’s tournaments and they operate on a shoestring budget in comparison to the riches that the Six Nations can call upon. If there is a genuine desire to grow the game – and thus eventually grow the money coming into the game – this is where the Six Nations need to look.
In both of these losses, there are similar skeletons buried in the grave, and if you rewind to last year’s tournament you will find they existed then too, writes @bensmithrugby https://t.co/25ALk6lMtL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2020
If the Six Nations were to align itself more closely with Rugby Europe and look to work with them, it would be to the benefit of both organisations, as well as the global prosperity of the game. The Six Nations doesn’t even need to incorporate relegation and promotion to get this ball rolling.
If the Six Nations were to invest into the Rugby Europe Championship, which currently broadcasts its games for free through Rugby Europe TV, there is no reason why it couldn’t be rebranded as the Six Nations Trophy and included in the broadcast package that the current Six Nations are putting together that will include men’s, women’s, under-20s and autumn internationals.
What rugby needs to grow is a larger group of nations playing the sport at a high level and in order to finance that growth, they need to work on developing nations with the economies and potential broadcast deals to make the sport sustainable.
6?? A level students for headmaster Faz… ?????? https://t.co/2ntKdVGH8v
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2020
It’s not going to bring the short-term boost that CVC – if their investment goes through – would want and that South Africa’s inclusion would garner, but it is the approach that will bring a much brighter long-term future for rugby in Europe, the northern hemisphere and globally.
If the second tier of European rugby can be strengthened, suddenly the argument for promotion and relegation in the Six Nations becomes a stronger one, not only because the team coming up will be in a better place to compete with the established nations, but also because the relegated side will not be being cast out into the wilderness as they currently would be.
Rugby has repeatedly shown that when organisations work in unison, greater things can be achieved for both parties and cooperation between the Six Nations and Rugby Europe would be no different, just as Premiership Rugby’s compromises with the RFU helped send England to the World Cup final last year.
The Six Nations are one of the few entities in rugby that can afford to delay short-term gratification for greater reward in the long-term. Now is the time to push them to do just that.
WATCH: The latest episode of The Rugby Pod discusses Ellis Genge’s post-match interview and Finn Russell’s ongoing bust-up with Gregor Townsend
Comments on RugbyPass
Great story. Rugby needs new investment in teams like Brussels another pro league in Europe would be great.
1 Go to commentsAlso, looking at the data from last year, it seemed like by far the two biggest predictors of success were (1) kicking more than your opponents, and (2) having a higher rate of line-out wins than your opponents. I haven’t gone through the stats this year with a fine tooth comb, but the increase in kicks per game and the increase in tries from lineouts would suggest that these two metrics are only getting more important. England’s move away from a kick-heavy game to win against Ireland was seen by some as evidence that running rugby is on the rise. Alternatively it could be taken as evidence that if one team kicks more, and the other team wins more lineouts (as England did) a match is bound to be close to a draw.
2 Go to commentsI have been finding it odd that points per 22 entry has become such a talked about stat, given that your points per entry can be driven down by having more entries. These data would seem to confirm that it isn’t a useful metric, or at any rate is less useful than total entries.
2 Go to commentsI think the last two games England have played is some of their best rugby they have played under Borthwick. There has been a lot more attacking instinct and as a reward have created some well worked tries. Ollie Lawrence is a good foil at 12 as he offers the hard direct lines whilst the rest of the backs can play open. As much as it pains me to say but I do hope England keep playing this way. On a side note my favourite try of the weekend was Lorenzo Pani’s for the nice loop play that put him away and his finish was excellent. Thanks as always Nick.
39 Go to commentsMost exciting player on the planet right now, worth the price of a ticket.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
23 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
39 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
6 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
39 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
4 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to comments