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A number of the top teams have supported the proposed "World Series of Rugby". The teams to be involved include:
So whats your take on this? Do you think it would work? Do you think it would be beneficial for the game?
- Australia
- Argentina
- England
- France
- Ireland
- Italy
- New Zealand
- Scotland
- South Africa
- Wales
- Held twice between World Cup years
- Six Nations and Tri Nations games to count for tournament points
- Adds Argentina to an expanded Tri Nations format
- Northern and southern hemisphere teams would then play each other once
- Final to be played in Cardiff, Paris or London.
THE IRB is moving to introduce a 10-team World Series of Rugby tournament that will revolutionise the game internationally.
Australia is one of the driving forces behind the tournament which would involve heavyweights England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, the Wallabies and Argentina.
The series would be staged twice between World Cups when the British and Irish Lions were not touring. The proposal is a key item on the agenda at the IRB's Integrated Season Forum which started yesterday in south-west England.
The concept would see Six Nations games counting for tournament points as would three designated Tri Nations matches involving the Wallabies, Springboks and All Blacks.
The Argentinian games would also be scheduled into the calendar or they could be included in an expanded Tri-Nations format. The northern and southern hemisphere teams would then play each other once.
"The games could be played in either the June or November window or it may be a different structure they come up with,'' said ARU head of Rugby Services Peter Rowles.
"It might be six Tests in a row with three in the north and three in the south. It could be played under a similar model to Super 14 with bonus points.''
At the end of the round robin the top two teams play the grand final either in Paris, Cardiff or London. It would mean that Australia played 11 or 12 Tests in season depending on whether they made the grand final of the tournament.
The World Series would bring an end to dud Test matches when nations send second string sides to Australia. It would stop the practice of national sides just looking to peak once every four years when the World Cup is staged.
"Certainly that concept has been on the IRB's agenda for sometime,'' Rowles said.
SANZAR partners Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have all had discussions about the World Series proposal.
"Australia and New Zealand are certainly thinking similarly about it and South Africa are pretty open as well,'' Rowles said.
It is understood England are also supporters of the series. Australia's representatives at the IRB conference are ARU deputy CEO Matt Carroll and chairman Peter McGrath.
If World Series gets the go-ahead it will start after the next World Cup.
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So whats your take on this? Do you think it would work? Do you think it would be beneficial for the game?