Radical tourney on the cards
The Rugby Football Union has been urged to back radical plans for a World Cup-style tournament in the United Kingdom and Ireland next northern summer which could raise up to £250 million (NZ$497 million) to ease the financial crisis facing the game.
It is understood that proposals for a 16-team invitational tournament, to be held in June and July next year, have been submitted to World Rugby and the RFU, with a working title of the Coronavirus Cup of World Rugby.
The plan, drawn up by Francis Baron, the former RFU chief executive, is based on the 2015 World Cup in England, but would involve playing matches at the national stadiums of each of the four home unions.
The tournament, involving 31 matches over six weeks, would mean the postponement of the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa from July next year to the summer of 2022 to minimise the disruption to domestic tournaments in the northern and southern hemispheres.
However, Baron, who put together the RFU’s bid to host the 2015 tournament, said it was necessary to take ‘‘exceptional measures to deal with an exceptional crisis’’.
He said 100 per cent of the profits would be distributed to the unions to support professional and community games. A family support fund would also be established for those in rugby who have lost loved ones to the virus. It would be administered by an independent charitable trust.
‘‘The key will be winning the support of the southern hemisphere unions but, with everyone facing horrendous financial challenges, this is a bold and ambitious plan to raise large amounts of new cash from which they will be major beneficiaries,’’ Baron said.
‘‘The 2015 World Cup generated net profits for the game of around £400 million. I believe this could generate a net profit for distribution to unions of £200 to £250 million. This would be in addition to the £80 million World Rugby support funding package already in place.’’
World Rugby is in discussions with unions about rescheduling the Six Nations matches and summer tours as well as realigning the global calendar.
But Baron insisted now was not the time to focus on restructuring, given the ‘‘potential financial tsunami’’ which he fears ‘‘could sweep away some of our unions and our community clubs’’.
He added: ‘‘Proposals on restructuring and competitions should be put on ice until the battle with the virus has been won. The only priority should be providing cash support to all levels of the global game. When the house is on fire, the priority is not to discuss changing the decoration in the living room.’’
The draft for the tournament involves South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Japan, England, France, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, United States and Canada.
‘‘Time is short, but we can do this. To use the famous World War II dictum, what is needed is ‘action this day’,’’ Baron said.
The Daily Telegraph