Q&A How rugby has reached a precipice, and what happens next

Q

What is at stake?

A

World Rugby appeared to have sorted a new global season, accommodating the domestic and international schedules of northern and southern hemispheres at a landmark meeting in San Francisco. The deal was to cover international matches from 2020 to 2032.

The key agreements included a switch of the June Test window to July, comprising three Tests (with the exception of the year after the World Cup when Sanzaar unions would host two-test series). The November Test window was to move forward one week, while the World Cup window was cemented within the calendar, kicking off one week earlier, in the second week of September. These were said to aid the development of the club game and player welfare.

Q

What has gone wrong?

A

While the San Francisco accord set out a framework for the international game, it did not strike agreement between club and country, with the individual unions expected to fill in the gaps and adjust seasons accordingly. The first problem arose in the northern hemisphere when a decision to cut the Six Nations from seven to five weeks was overturned after concerns about player welfare. The desire of the Premiership clubs to start their season in September and extend it until the end of June to allow international players to be involved in more club matches also sparked opposition from players and officials. The future of the Lions tour in the new agreement provoked controversy, with players and officials warning about the impact of shortening future tours from 10 weeks to eight and reducing the number of matches.

Q What is on the table now?

A The Rugby Football Union and the Premiership clubs are said to be “very close” to agreeing a new domestic season, the international framework has come under pressure, particularly from Sanzaar countries because of low attendances. Test rugby remains the cash cow of the world game and officials are seeking a way to make the matches more meaningful, with one plan to switch the July window to October to provide for Tests in the southern hemisphere followed by return matches in Europe.

Q What happens next?

A Fresh negotiations began two months ago and World Rugby is to chair a summit in Sydney in 12 days’ time to thrash out a new deal which could shape Test rugby and, in turn, the domestic season. Agustin Pichot, the vice-chairman of World Rugby, has warned that the game could disintegrate if it does not find agreement.

Pichot says the entire grid has to be reworked and estimates that the unions are not even halfway to a deal. Pichot also believes that it is imperative that World Rugby talks with the club power brokers in France and England to thrash out a solution to player welfare amid fears that an extended domestic season could increase risk of injury.

Premiership Rugby last week called for the RFU to limit the Tests England play to 10 a year outside World Cup and Lions tour years.