Nations Championship

[Omar Comin']

I suspect they'll either make it for the invitational teams or they'll look to expand the 1st Div to 16 teams and have the bottom two up for relegation.

Expanding would be more palatable to the tier 1 unions, but with 16 the format would get a bit messier. I don't think you could do groups of 4 with semi finals because that's too similar to the world cup. If you did 2 groups of 8, you don't have enough of a window for everyone to play each other. I suppose each team could play 6 of the 8 and there'd be some luck of the draw.

Another option would be to make the divisions smaller (3 divisions of 8 teams - 4 Europe, 4 rest of world) so that the 2nd division is still high level and commercially valuable and it's not such a fall to go from 1 to 2. Then if you had automatic promotion/relegation most teams would yoyo between them occasionally.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Expanding would be more palatable to the tier 1 unions, but with 16 the format would get a bit messier. I don't think you could do groups of 4 with semi finals because that's too similar to the world cup. If you did 2 groups of 8, you don't have enough of a window for everyone to play each other. I suppose each team could play 6 of the 8 and there'd be some luck of the draw.

Another option would be to make the divisions smaller (3 divisions of 8 teams - 4 Europe, 4 rest of world) so that the 2nd division is still high level and commercially valuable and it's not such a fall to go from 1 to 2. Then if you had automatic promotion/relegation most teams would yoyo between them occasionally.

Could go to 14 and only add one more round. Play four games in July and another four in November.

 

[rugbyAU]

From the SMH:

The Herald understands the Irish have effectively told their Japanese counterparts they don’t want to play in Japan in July and they have suggested the east coast of Australia as the location for Japan’s “home” fixture.

This is due to player welfare concerns and the fact they would otherwise have to play in Japan, Australia and New Zealand in consecutive weeks. Tellingly, while the Nations Championship fixtures were released this week, the details about locations and venues are still not confirmed.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Can Japan not tell the Irish to just shut up and cop the draw. Why should Japan have to play an away game.

 

[rugbyAU]

It is silly Ireland saying 'can you move your home game 10 hours south so our travel can be easier'

 

[Wilson]

Can Japan not tell the Irish to just shut up and cop the draw. Why should Japan have to play an away game.

I think Fiji being forced to play away has probably opened the door. This wouldn't fly if Japan wasn't an 'invitational' side, but I'm guessing they may be somewhat keen to play nice while their position at the top table feels a bit temporary.

It is a ridiculous request from the Irish though, or at least it will be if it has been framed in anyway that suggests this what Japan should or must do, rather than just a gauge of interest.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Japan should say yeah alright but we'll meet somewhat in the middle and see you in Townsville. Drag the Irish up to the far north.

 

[Wilson]

Japan should say yeah alright but we'll meet somewhat in the middle and see you in Townsville. Drag the Irish up to the far north.

Say sure we don't have to play in Japan and then take the game to South Africa, where the home fans hate the Irish right now and the travel burden would be even worse

 

[rugbyAU]

Japan should absolutely not give up a home game and add 20 hrs of travel because Ireland don’t want to play in Japan