DAVID SOLE
A radical new tournament has been proposed for next August in England.
The World 12s is intended to bring together 192 of the best players across the globe to compete in franchisebased teams in a new 12-a-side format over three weekends.
In a format similar to cricket’s IPL, players will be auctioned off to the highest-bidding franchise.
Teams will then play in a round format before progressing, or not, to a knockout stage.
It is a revolutionary new idea, yet there are some serious players on the World 12s Board, so they cannot be ignored.
The organisation’s chairman is Ian Ritchie – the former CEO of the RFU – and he is joined by Gareth Davies, who chaired the Welsh Rugby Union, and Steve Tew, the former New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive.
Steve Hansen, the former All Blacks coach, is acting as an ambassador for the World 12s.
It is an intriguing concept, and one that is bound to send shockwaves through the fairly traditional ranks of World Rugby.
But initial discussions with the game’s governing body, and other Unions’ clubs and players are said to have been constructive.
If World Rugby are seriously worried, they should have some of their fears allayed by a promise of £250 million being injected into the game as a consequence of this new tournament.
Of course, there are issues to work out – player release being one thorny issue.
However, as a player, wouldn’t it be great to train and play alongside All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies, rather than just against them?
The prospect of a half-back combination of Finn Russell and Faf de Klerk is incredibly appealing, and there will be many other mouth-watering combinations to look forward to.
Most players will be selected from Tier-one nations, but it has already been stipulated that at least two Tiertwo nation players, and one Under-20 player, will have to join each franchise.
Another issue as yet unresolved is how this “semi-abbreviated” game will be played.
Rugby League has 13 on each team, with no flankers and set-piece play limited to scrums, which are hardly competitive.
It will be interesting to see how a team of 12 is constructed.
What it will do is create much more space on the field of play, negating the influence of defence, and encouraging the game to be played with the ball in hand, similar to Sevens.
After probably the dullest Lions series ever against the Springboks from a rugby perspective, fans are crying out for more creative, attractive and open rugby – as the game used to be played before professionalism.
If the World 12s does one thing, it should guarantee that, and make rugby appealing to watch once more.
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The World 12s should make rugby appealing to watch once more