New calendar for world rugby

[higgik]

After all the talk in the media this week, about the challenges for the international game and the potential take over of PRL, is it time to revisit the way the calendar is structured for the well being of players, while maximising revenue and quality of games.

Perhaps, it is time to dust off the Bruce Craig plan of completely separating the international and club game.

Some things would have to change in order for this to happen, and are highly unlikely to change, but how about.

North Hemisphere
November to May Club rugby, limited to maximum of 8 Euro rounds and 22 domestic rounds, with 3 weeks programmed rest during this period, not concurrent, but spread over season.

Altsernative is for a new European league played over 22 rounds from November to March, then put domestic rugby to Sept and Ocrtober.

June rest period
Late July international training
August-October 6N (6 weeks, 5 games), cross hemisphere including RWC and Lions Tours, (7 weeks, 6 games)

This would mean moving 6N moving, having a 3 match tour out and in in one 7 week block, but not having them in RWC year, use Lions Tours to send A teams to Tier 2 nations and host them.

The club game would reduce the number of games, 1 in Europe, 2 in domestic, and run from the beginning of November.

If they wanted they could run a Pre-season, British & Irish Cup in September/October.

For Southern Hemisphere
March to July Super rugby (22 weeks)
August Rugby Championship Improved fixture list.
Sept to Oct Tours, domestic rugby.
November to January rest.

 

[Brigantine]

The Southern Hemisphere don't need a slot for domestic rugby separate from Super Rugby and the international game. But there's also no way the TRC will be reduced to just 1 month - that's not even wishful thinking, just delusion.

What's the current plan for the 2020 calendar? That's what we should be starting from.
July tours and then November tests sounds like a happening thing. The alternative is October tours and November tests.

 

[dullonien]

I really like the current idea from world rugby of shifting the summer tours, so that all international rugby (apart from 6N/RC) is played in one block. Could open up the possibility of home and away type clashes. It should also allow for a proper rest period for players.

The big problem is the English Premiership and especially the Top14. Both are a number of weeks too long.

I'd love to see the 6n pushed back in the calendar. It could be an even better competition if we could avoid the FEB bad weather. The last couple of rounds are often far better than the first couple.

 

[higgik]

It would be far better.
Also move the euro cup to 2 blocks of 3, one in Autumn, 1 in new year, then play offs after 6N all in one block with a gap of 1 week before final.