Why Private Clubs are Better for Global Rugby than a Union Run Model

[jonny24]

Oh, and you were doing so well until that...

Why? It's like the Olympics replacing world championships in other sports in Olympic years.

How many times do you want to play the same five teams over and over again? It's even worse in the SH with the RC. The world cup is a much more exciting tournament. There's match ups that would never happen otherwise, crazy upsets happen, and it draws attention like nothing else. Replacing the 6n and RC would only add to that, focusing all the attention of the international game on its best product. They could even have a short window, with the final qualifying matches, creating more of a build up. And then the later larger window for the WC.

And then, the next year, the 6N and RC would become more interesting, due to the years absence. I think this is a great idea.

 

[goodNumber10]

Why? It's like the Olympics replacing world championships in other sports in Olympic years.

How many times do you want to play the same five teams over and over again? It's even worse in the SH with the RC. The world cup is a much more exciting tournament. There's match ups that would never happen otherwise, crazy upsets happen, and it draws attention like nothing else. Replacing the 6n and RC would only add to that, focusing all the attention of the international game on its best product. They could even have a short window, with the final qualifying matches, creating more of a build up. And then the later larger window for the WC.

And then, the next year, the 6N and RC would become more interesting, due to the years absence. I think this is a great idea.

You would because you clearly have no understanding of the importance of the tournament. It's absurd

Rugby is a game built on tradition and values, sometimes to it's detriment and sometimes to it's benefit. The 6 Nations is one of those occasions where it's absolutelyto it's benefit. It generates a huge amount of revenue - even in world cup year and raises the profile in a way that even the world cup struggles to do. To chuck something out the every four years because of the world cup and because a few developing nations want it differently is an absolutely preposterous notion.

i agree more should be done, i'd love to see a second tier six nations with relegation every other year, but as far as i can tell your entire assesment revolves around revenue generation for smaller nations at the expense of current revenue streams for bigger nations.

 

[jonny24]

I think that a global calendar would benefit everyone. If there's a way to do that and retain everything, that would be ideal. Maybe instead of dropping the 6N/RC the other test windows are dropped in WC years.

Speaking of aligning calendars, one thing I've never understood why rugby is a "winter" sport in the UK? Aside from an awkward transition year , why couldn't it be played in the summer? I'm not saying that's what should be done, but something has to shift somewhere.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think both the NH and SH are in agreement that there should be a global calendar - but neither wants to budge.

Rugby is a winter sport in the SH too - if the Saffers played in their summer it would be horrendous. (the heat and the firmness of the grounds).

The British model is Cricket in the summer, Rugby/Football in the Winter.
Cricket can't be played in the winter.

I would personally prefer our rugby to be played in the summer - I think the conditions we play in are a major factor in our poor handling as compared with the SH.

 

[Peat]

A year without the Six Nations is like a year without sex. Its just not a fulfilling way to live.

I don't see how the IRB can make enough money to provide the compensation for international player use by Tier 2 countries, particularly if you curtail internationals, the main money making event for so many of its members. That does not seem to be a starter for me.

Rugby's brand is International Rugby. Its appeal to many of its fans is largely based around the international game. A large part of this argument in favour of privately run clubs and leagues is that they provide Tier 2 countries with a better international chance - I don't think the original author wants clubs for the sake of it, he wants a stronger international game and sees the clubs as the path. The likely outcome of an attempt to force a massive change in its priorities is to smash the game that the Tier 2 countries want to join. Attempts to grow the game are better working with the model we've got than proposing massive pie in the sky changes that aren't going to happen. Yes, I get that the current set up is immensely frustrating for a number of countries. But the international calender isn't getting trimmed - and if it does, the Tier 2 countries will get even less gametime against the Tier 1 countries.

 

[goodNumber10]

I think that a global calendar would benefit everyone. If there's a way to do that and retain everything, that would be ideal. Maybe instead of dropping the 6N/RC the other test windows are dropped in WC years.

Speaking of aligning calendars, one thing I've never understood why rugby is a "winter" sport in the UK? Aside from an awkward transition year , why couldn't it be played in the summer? I'm not saying that's what should be done, but something has to shift somewhere.

The November tests are already dropped as are the July tests iirc.


Agree about summer... And aligning the seasons. Just not on dropping the 6N.

 

[nickdnz]

Also - what national team wants no warm up games going into a Rugby World Cup...