With matches being devalued, World Rugby must act - Andy Goode
The northern and southern hemispheres are colliding again this autumn after a year off but their calendars still aren’t aligned and World Rugby have to be held to account.
The need for a global season has been an issue in the sport for as long as I can remember and it was a huge topic of debate at the start of the pandemic but, from the outside looking in, it doesn’t seem like the conversation has moved on at all.
Around 18 months ago it was the talk of the town as Sir Bill Beaumont was challenged by Agustin Pichot for the position of World Rugby chairman with both acknowledging something needed to happen. The Englishman won but all has been quiet on the western front since then.
I’m sure discussions have been taking place behind the scenes and it’s a complicated issue to resolve but rugby was on hold for a significant period of time during the pandemic and that was the time to act.
Not only has that not happened but we now have a couple of games this weekend that are substantially devalued because they are taking place outside of World Rugby’s international window. What is the point in having an international window if you’re going to allow nations to organise fixtures outside of it?
We all know unions have suffered financially due to Covid-19 and they are inevitably going to want to boost the coffers by staging an extra fixture. That was the case pre-Covid too. World Rugby should be stronger though and ensure the international window is adhered to.
Whether it’s Scotland missing 11 players based in England and France, the likes of Dan Biggar, Louis Rees-Zammit and co being unavailable to face the All Blacks for Wales or Tonga fielding a side made up of players predominantly plying their trade in the French lower leagues, rugby as a spectacle suffers.
The need for a global season has arguably become even more pressing with the varying rules and rates regarding Covid in different countries around the world as well.
Even within the international window we will be denied the prospect of seeing Marcus Smith go up against Quade Cooper because the latter has opted to remain with his club Kintetsu in Japan.
“I’m hurt that I couldn’t please everyone and keep both my employer and country happy,” he wrote on social media.
Once again players have been caught in the middle and they shouldn’t be put in this position. They need greater clarity and leadership from World Rugby.
It isn’t just the Smith v Cooper match-up we’re missing out on either. We can’t enjoy the Smith v Owen Farrell head-to-head in the Premiership this weekend and massive derby games such as Harlequins v Saracens and Northampton v Leicester are worse off because of missing internationals.
It isn’t an easy fix and the clubs in England and France, as well as the unions in the Southern Hemisphere, have a lot of power and understandably don’t want to budge but surely this has gone on long enough.
The current situation is completely untenable. The fans, players and everyone with the game at heart is being short-changed and World Rugby have to show some authority. It’s time for actions not words.
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments