IPL-like franchise-based rugby mooted
dubai — Imagine this. A Dubai franchise in a franchise-based Rugby 7s tournament to be played globally spread over 10-14 tournaments. A Scottish legend ruggerite thinks it is a possibility and one that could be modelled on the lines of the successful Indian Premier League (IPL).
“Sign up players, just like it happens in the IPL, and they will be here (Dubai) on a three-year contract, following your rules — that’s the way forward for rugby,” said Gavin Hastings, Scotland’s granitehard talisman, during a media interaction on the sidelines of the Emirates Airline Rugby Long Lunch in the city on Thursday.
In his opinion, the money generated through the franchise could be used to help smaller nations, “There is no money in Samoa — the franchise could take the financial burden off Samoan’s rugby.” In addition, he believes the same would be a great television opportunity as well.
Further, revealing his thought on turning the Rugby 7s World Series into a franchise-based event, he said that when players live in a particular franchise city for three-four months they also help to spread the game at grassroots level, say by visiting schools and clubs.
“Each franchise could sign three to five players from rugby (7s) playing countries,” said Hastings, who’s had 61 starts for Scotland and six for the Lions.
“I don’t think you need a world series; we can do away with it,” he suggested. He also pointed out that the players would monetarily benefit through this format.
“My philosophy is that when we do away with international rugby (7s) then these players become professional 7s players. If they do well and want to go and play 15s, they go off to play, whilst in the contract.”
He said that entrepreneurs could look at it and turn it into a successful model. It would also open the doors for the game to newer countries. “I would love to take the idea forward and start (Franchise Rugby 7s) in Dubai,” he enthused.
He also believes that 7s is a vehicle whereby you take rugby to newer countries. “People in the subcontinent countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan are not physically large, hence 7s could be a wonderful sport for them.
Also, it has the pace and skills and attributes of 15-a-side.” He himself has played rugby in Singapore amongst other places and insisted that 7s is a great sport for a new country to indulge in. “15-aside, on the other hand, is too technical for a new country to embrace and understand.”
“And like T20 cricket, 7s is a vehicle to spread rugby globally,” he reiterated, adding that 7s as an Olympics sport is another positive sign. Talking about taking rugby to America, he said, “Money is big (there) and money is everything in world rugby.”
He shared a few facts like how New Zealand took a drop in profit by 30 percent in 2011 in comparison to 2007 and 2005.
“They had to come back to the UK to earn profits and included Japan in two years time.”
At the same time, he did express his own reservations too, “You cannot take it everywhere in America. Chicago was clearly a success and one can go there. Also, New York is a fairly obvious choice and so is Boston with a strong Irish presence.”
Agreeing with the International Rugby Board (IRB) on taking the sport to the three cities in America, he deferred on Philadelphia. “Philadelphia was a joke from commercial point view, I don’t know why they went there.”
sunilvaidya@khaleejtimes.com