Report: World Rugby's plan to revive Nations Championship concept
World Rugby has reportedly drawn up four separate plans to revive a proposed Nations Championship following the 2023 World Cup.
The Nations Championship, a multi-tiered international competition designed to provide extra and more meaningful fixtures in between World Cups, was first proposed by the game’s global governing body in 2019.
It was also hoped the concept would provide a pathway for developing rugby nations to play against the world’s top teams more regularly.
Other benefits outlined by World Rugby included financial certainty for unions and harmonisation with club rugby, but the proposal was ultimately rejected when unanimous agreement couldn’t be found on the format.
Critics had also argued that staging such a competition – which would crown an overall, cross-hemisphere champion each year – on an annual basis would devalue the World Cup, but World Rugby hasn’t given up on making the competition a reality.
Speaking to Stuff, Pacific Rugby Players chairman Hale T-Pole revealed that four different models are being discussed on how to stage the tournament.
World Rugby’s initial concept had the rugby’s leading nations split into two conferences, the European Conference and the Rest of the World Conference, each of which were made up of three divisions.
The top division in each conference would have been comprised of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams, with the two highest-ranked non-European teams (which, at the time, were Japan and Fiji) pencilled in to join the Rugby Championship sides.
Each conference’s second division was planned to also have six teams made up of the next best nations from their respective regions, while the third division of each conference was planned to be split into four pools of four third-tier countries.
Interlinking each division were promotion and relegation play-offs, which would have provided teams from lower divisions the chance to play high-ranking teams on a frequent basis.
The threat of relegation from the Six Nations proved to be a sticking point for some of Europe’s leading unions, though, which resulted in the Nations Championship concept being axed.
That is until now, as T-Pole told Stuff that revamped formats of the Nations Championship have been tabled by rugby stakeholders ahead of key talks next month.
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“We’re currently talking about the restructuring of championship, the global comp, with option 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B,” the former Tongan international said.
“It could be a 12-country comp, or eight-eight, the top eight from the southern hemisphere and top eight from the north.
“Then you’ve got a top four-top four, with an eight-team tier two competition, or whatever they are going to call it.
“So we’re currently in discussions with World Rugby from an International Rugby Players perspective and all our members. I think November will be exciting times for these discussions.”
“I’m just like, ‘Let us play some games, man, we need more games’.”
T-Pole’s frustrations regarding a lack of fixtures for Pacific Island nations could be alleviated even if the Nations Championship fails to get off the ground for a second time as he said a “Pacific Rim” competition was also being considered.
The Pacific Nations Cup – last comprised of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, the USA and Canada – hasn’t been played since 2019, much to the discontent of leading rugby figures from some of those countries.
USA Rugby chief executive Ross Young expressed concerns about a lack of meaningful competition for the Eagles in August, two months prior to the announcement that the United States will bid for the 2027 and 2031 World Cups.
The Eagles paid the price for their lack of competitive tests in recent times as they were thrashed 104-14 by the All Blacks in Washington DC over the weekend in a match not too dissimilar to New Zealand’s 102-0 annihilation of Tonga in July.
Blowouts like those may be a thing of the past, though, if the Pacific Nations Cup returns to the fold, something of which T-Pole is hopeful of.
“It’s been tabled in the conversation. As you know, the more games the better it will be for the islands. Obviously, Covid-19 has not helped them, but it has been up in discussions about playing the US in a pan-Pacific competition.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t enjoy drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments