Report: Super Rugby's best set to take on elite European clubs in proposed club world championship
Top clubs and franchises from the northern and southern hemispheres could be in line to square off against one another in a world club championship as soon as 2022, according to a news report out of England.
According to the The Telegraph, there is “growing optimism” among key stakeholders for the creation of the competition, with hopes for kick-off at the end of the 2021-22 season.
The tournament would reportedly be held once every four years, and would feature a total 16 teams from both sides of the world to face off in a straight knockout format.
While ensuring the Champions Cup remains the premier club competition in the northern hemisphere, it is thought the club world championship would replace the knockout stages of the European competition.
Instead, the four highest-ranked teams from the pool stages of the Champions Cup would be joined by the previous season’s winners of that tournament, the Premiership, the Top 14 and the PRO14 as the northern hemisphere’s representatives.
It remains unclear how the eight teams from the southern hemisphere would be determined, especially given the fluid situation in South Africa, with the nation’s four Super Rugby franchises dumped from the competition by New Zealand and Australia.
The Trans-Tasman nations are expected to join forces and team up with two Pacific Island sides to create a new version of the Super 12 in 2022, and it may be that the top eight sides from that competition qualify for the proposed club world championship.
South Africa’s teams, meanwhile, are widely thought to be integrated into the PRO14, which already has two South African franchises in the form of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings.
The Lions, Sharks, Bulls and Stormers are also expected to be eligible for Champions Cup qualification from 2022, with The Telegraph reporting that details will be discussed with key stakeholders over a series of Zoom calls.
It is unclear whether teams from the Top League in Japan, Major League Rugby in North America or Super Liga Americana de Rugby in South America will be involved in a club world championship.
TRANSFER RUMOURS: Reports are circulating in SA over the future plans of one of the biggest names in world rugby – Siya Kolisi. https://t.co/6cqhl832NB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2020
Regardless, The Telegraph said there was an “expectation that an agreement can be reached within weeks”.
“It is really exciting. Everyone is talking – World Rugby, the southern hemisphere and ourselves,” said Simon Halliday, the chairman of European Professional Club Rugby, the organisers of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
“We would like, if all the negotiations are fruitful, that the latter stages of the 2021/22 season would see the inaugural World Club Champions Cup take place. This can work without there needing to be any serious upheaval in the current calendar.
“It is under discussion and everyone seems keen but there are many key decisions yet to make. We can see how it can work for the northern hemisphere clubs but it needs to work for the southern hemisphere as well.
“We are going to be making presentations in the coming weeks to go into the details of how exactly it would work as there are a lot of moving parts. We need to make it work in the next month or so. The leagues and the union of the northern hemisphere will come together to sign off a new EPCR agreement that will take us through to the latter part of the next decade.
Comments on RugbyPass
“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
2 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!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to comments