Governing body to review global rugby season
THE possibility of a global rugby season will take a few steps forward in the coming days when the issue comes under review during a series of committee meetings in Buenos Aires.
World Rugby‚ the game’s governing body‚ is holding the meetings to continue to grow the game and to attend to player welfare.
A global season would go a long way to improving both aspects. Within a week of scheduled meetings‚ World Rugby’s executive‚ rugby regional advisory‚ audit and risk and regulations committees and the Rugby World Cup board will meet with new chairman Bill Beaumont and vice-chairman Agustín Pichot.
An insider told Business Day that he was optimistic there would be progress to move towards a global season as there was willingness from most countries for it to happen. Rugby’s current Test and tours schedule is in place until 2019‚ however the calendar is clear from 2020 and beyond‚ therefore presenting the perfect time to start a global calendar.
The International Rugby Players’ Association (IRPA) has long lobbied for a global season and in 2014 raised the possibility of moving the southern hemisphere’s June Test match window to the last three weeks of July.
IRPAs proposed move was for northern hemisphere club competitions to start a month later‚ enabling more of their domestic competitions to be played after the Christmas break.
That could potentially provide more breathing space for their respective finals series’ and improving player availability for Test matches.
In the southern hemisphere, the change could do away with Super Rugby’s month-long June break and allow players an extended pre-season‚ something that has been sought for years.
Until now, their calls have been heard but not acted on. But Beaumont is a known supporter of a global season‚ just not at the expense of the current Six Nations dates in February and March.
French and English clubs are also one of the biggest obstacles to changing rugby’s calendar as they are not keen to change a system they believe works for them.
But with all negotiations‚ it will take time and compromise and at least the Buenos Aires meetings raise the possibility that World Rugby and its member nations are finally serious about tackling the question of a global rugby season.
Other agenda items at the gathering include a review of the closed law trials currently operational in competitions across the world‚ player welfare injuryprevention strategies‚ mass-participation and highperformance strategies‚ a review of rugby sevens at Rio 2016‚ Rugby World Cup 2019 preparations and Rugby World Cup 2023 host selection process.
“Rugby is currently experiencing record growth with more men‚ women and children than ever before taking up the sport‚” Beaumont said.
“But we must always look ahead and drive strategies that further the welfare of our players at all levels‚ build solid foundations for a sustainable and exciting game for unions‚ players and fans and deliver world-class events. Our committee meetings are an important part of the process and I look forward to productive consideration and discussion with my colleagues in Buenos Aires.”
Pichot added: “I am delighted to be hosting World Rugby in Argentina.
“I look forward to receiving my colleagues for a week of detailed discussions that will further the development of the game at all levels.” TMG Sport