Global shakeup on agenda
The All Blacks would be part of a sixnation southern hemisphere top division that would play crossover games against the Six Nations teams to compete in a global grand final staged every two years, under a bold new model that could take rugby a huge step forward this week.
According to a report in The Times, global rugby bosses are meeting in Dublin today, with the so-called ‘Nations Championship’ firmly on the agenda.
There are hopes that the muchdiscussed concept could gain broad support before the end of the week, before being put to a formal World Rugby vote in November.
If agreement is forthcoming, the new competition – which would start in 2026 – would represent the most significant restructure of the game since professionalism in the 1990s.
The Times reported that the new competition would see Fiji and Japan join New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina in the southern hemisphere top division.
Relegation and promotion in both the southern and northern divisions would also be part of the competition, although this would not affect the structure of the Six Nations.
Each of the six teams in the top division would play each other once during the existing July and November test windows, with the top two teams playing each other in a grand final to be held in the final weekend of November.
The Times reported that the new model is expected to turbocharge the game’s revenue by 40% or more, although the commercial split between competing nations remains one of the sticking points.
New Zealand Rugby has been trying for decades to gain a revenue-sharing agreement with the richer northern nations, but to date has been unsuccessful.
The other difficulty is getting an agreement with clubs in Europe to allow a fourth test weekend in November.
At present, the World Rugby test window is for three weekends in November, and clubs are not obliged to release players for additional fixtures organised by test nations outside that window.
However, there is a belief that an improved relationship between the clubs and their respective unions could lead to a deal.
Separately, the clubs are also keen on establishing a World Club Rugby Championship that would see the likes of the Crusaders or Blues compete against Toulouse or Leinster.
The relegation/promotion aspect of the competition would allow nations such as Samoa and Tonga to play their way into the top division in the southern hemisphere, probably at the expense of Fiji or Japan.
These playoffs would also take place in the last weekend of November, creating a clear pathway for emerging nations while making sure there was a level of drama that doesn’t exist at present.
Former All Black Conrad Smith, who is now head of player welfare at the International Rugby Players Association, threw his support behind the model.
‘‘The model that’s now on the table is the best for all sides,’’ Smith said.
‘‘This model isn’t perfect, and there are details still to iron out, but if we’re serious about growing the global game we can’t let commercial interests get in the way of doing the right thing.’’