World League Explained
Proposal
Create a 12-team World League in 2022. Six Nations and Rugby Championship fixtures count towards World League points. Expand Rugby Championship to include two more teams. World Rugby said these would be merit-based but the proposal favoured Japan and USA entering. Northern teams travel South to play three tests in July. Southern teams travel North to play three tests in November. Top four teams play semi-final and final in Northern Hemisphere in November/ December.
Benefits
The proposal was taken to potential financial backers and a provisional offer made that will bring the 12 teams an additional $14 million a year. Gives test football more meaning and relevance beyond the established Six Nations and Rugby Championship.
Flaws
There is no proposal in place for Tier Two unions and there is no detail on what sort of competition is being built for them. There is no agreement about promotion/ relegation meaning the likes of the Pacific Islands and Georgia would be locked out of this competition for 12 years. Neither Japan nor the USA have shown they are ready to play in the Rugby Championship. USA are currently ranked 13th in the world and Fiji are ninth – yet Fiji could be excluded without explanation. The travel burden for all players will increase with the North having to play July tests in three of Japan, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The teams which make the play-offs will have to play five hard tests in succession and in the case of the All Blacks, it will be at the end of a long hard season and away from home. The season is being extended which will cut down the rest times available for leading players. The world's leading players have voiced strong criticism of the concept and hinted they won't agree to play in it.
Is it a Done Deal?
World Rugby and various national union executives say no, yet they have taken the proposal to market and told stakeholders they wanted to sign off on the concept in mid-March.
Once news of their intentions became public in early March, they back-tracked and the March meeting was set up instead to firm up on more detail with a view to trying to finalise a proposal in May and potentially look to launch the competition in 2022.
Why no Promotion/ Relegation?
This has become the most contentious topic as there is a big divide. Countries such as New Zealand say they are adamant there has to be a pathway for emerging nations to progress and that is supported by World Rugby deputy chairman Agustin Pichot.
But the Six Nations, particularly Scotland and Italy, are strongly opposed to places in the league being contestable and have refused to agree to those terms.
What Has Been Proposed for Tier Two?
At this stage there has been no firm proposal made. World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper has said there is a shadow 12-team league plan for the second tier but hasn't yet divulged how that might work and how who would be in it.
It is believed that the plan is to try to sell the broadcast rights for the World League and then with the money locked in, a plan will be made on what to do about the second tier competition.