Better Rugby Rules

Source: IRB planning rugby World Series – David Long

The IRB are desperate to add some meaning to the rugby calendar outside the World Cup and have devised the idea of a biennial World Series which would involve the world’s top 10 nations – New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, England, Wales, France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

According to UK newspaper, the Daily Mail, the World Series would begin as a round-robin competition, the sides playing each other once, with all Six Nations games and some Tri-Nations results counting towards the World Series

Argentina would play Sanzar nations when they’re not involved in Tri-Nations tests. For example, Argentina would play the All Blacks the same week the Wallabies play the Springboks. Tests between the northern and southern hemisphere nations would take place in the June and November test windows.

At the end of the two-year period the top-placed nations would play each other in a one-off game to claim the title of World Series champions. Wembley Stadium is being eyed as the venue for this game because its 90,000 seats make it the most financially attractive.

My comments: I posted a similar idea on my blog months ago here : International Playing Window with Revenue Sharing [April 2008]. Thank god the IRB reads my blog. I hope it works out.

Possible ideas.

• 1) The playoffs should be 4 teams playing a semi and grand final, just like the current super 14 playoffs. Complete this over two weeks.
• 2) Have two divisions. Division 1 – The top 10 teams mentioned. Division 2 – The teams numbered from 11 to 20 ( Samoa, Tonga, Japan, USA, Canada, Georgia, etc).
• 3) Play the division 2 playoffs as pre match for divison 1 playoffs. So the grand final is two games 1.00pm division 2, 2.30pm division 1. Now wouldnt that pull the world wide audience ratings .
• 4) Division 1 prize money 75%, Division 2 prize money 25% of all total price money available. As I said in (1) with 4 teams in each division making the playoffs, I suggest all teams get some level of prize money for making the playoffs. You cant have teams going to the playoffs and lose money due to travel and living costs. The tournment is about generating cash for teams, so no playoff team should lose financially just for being there !
• 5) Should the ranking be based on how the teams finished in the most recent rugby world cup. Could you imagine Wales or Ireland in division 2. I guess it will be based on commercial clout, rather than recent performance.

NOW thats a good idea !