Proposed Nations Championship
- Thread starter waiopehu oldboy
- Start date
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Yep fair enough if test window regulations aren't relaxed. Anyway, I understand a few of you are happy to find reasons not to have it, I think it is a good start. And for the first 2 comp cycles maybe the tier 2 nations will have to look at games againt tier 1 in alternate years?
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Yep mate, but 2 years in a 4 year cycle , until promotion rlegation is brought in.
Adam84
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
the test windows aren't getting 'relaxed', NH clubs won't agree to it without significant financial compensation.
Alternate years are the RWC and B&I Lions tours. For obvious reasons test match opportunities are already limited in those years.
Nothing to do with finding reasons not to have it, just need to understand the impact of SANZAAR and 6Nations making these decisions, there's certainly positives for those unions(hint: it's $$$$), but this is a negative for the Tier 2 nations seeking to close the gap. If you're happy with that, then good for you. I'm worried that this means Tonga and Samoa will be lost to rugby league.
I firmly believe WR (World Rugby) could have better aligned the global calendar in a way which also guaranteed more crossover matches between Tier 1 & 2.
Jimmy_Crouch
Ken Catchpole (46)
I'm suprised WR (World Rugby) doesn't ask all tier one teams to play a minimum number of tests against tier two nations.
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
Do you really believe promotion/relegation will actually occur? Because I'm very, very skeptical. I see no reason for it not to be a 16 team structure with promotion/relegation from 2026 particularly if it doesn't include the 6Ns and RC as part of it. And even then there would be ways of managing it.
dru
Tim Horan (67)
Emotionally I agree and support your thinking.
Influence-wise, I feel like we are lucky to have an invitation. Is it our remit to rock the boat? WR (World Rugby) has a role here, it isn't an RA role.
hifflepiff
Charlie Fox (21)
Even 5 games a year mandated, and subsidised partially by WR (World Rugby) to cover any potential losses would be huge.
WorkingClassRugger
David Codey (61)
Jimmy_Crouch
Ken Catchpole (46)
I'd be requesting 2-3 games per tier one team per season.
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Funnily enough the Lions tour years is when second tier nations get best chance of playing tier 1 nations as their top player from Home unuions are generally with Lions, so they tend to seek slightly lesser competition, and WC years they get to play tier 1 in WC. So I say it's still I believe evry 2 years they get their best chances anyway.
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Have no idea if promotion/relegation will actually occur. But you know what? If I didn't believe the release that says that is the intention, why would I even be bothering to comment on it? I think the WR (World Rugby) will try and and make it a thing, as it makes for better comp I think.
I will add I like the idea of games for tier 2 against tier 1, but realsitically where do we play the games? Do we extend the test season or do we simply say you have to add tests midweek etc. I know the ABs played Tonga here in NZ a couple of years back, the game was panned here and a lot of rugby forums, as Tongan couldn't get all their players back etc.
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Adam84
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Even 1 game per year is better than this outcome, and I think that’s at least what should have been pushed for.
Still push ahead with the new World League, however rather than a 6 game North vs South system, make it a 5 game tournament and make the 6th match a Tier 1 Vs Tier 2 crossover.
it still allows commercialisation of the product, revenue would still jump significantly for all unions and it ensures there are at least 12 x Tier 1 vs Tier 2 matches in those years.
Jimmy_Crouch
Ken Catchpole (46)
Ideally, I'd utalise them as warm up tests. So either first test prior to the inbound tours in July, first test before TRC or first test on our European tour.
waiopehu oldboy
Stirling Mortlock (74)
6N has been trimmed by a week & the November window extended to four weeks. So in addition to three NC macthes Wobs, AB etc will be able (directed by WR (World Rugby) to do so?) to schedule a match v T2 opposition in November & the T2 side will have access to their UK/ Euro-based players. I can see e.g. the Wobs putting out what might be termed an A+ selection i.e. mostly Aus A but with a number of Test players in the 23. Not sure if RA would hand out Test caps but I doubt the T2 hosts would care: remembering that NZR have sent NZ XV's up to Japan but JRU have promoted it as being Japan v All Blacks.
Adam84
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I don’t think this has been approved yet?
Important to note though, there will also be a final for the World League, that will need to take place in the 4th week of the test window, and potentially not decided until the 3rd week of November.
Which makes it difficult to book in test matches for those teams still in contention at that time of year. We could see scenarios scenarios like Wallabies vs Samoa playing at Cardiff, with only 1 week to sell tickets in that case.
Unless they make it like a Magic Round/Super Round event and have multiple teams playing at the one stadium over the 4th weekend. Which would be kind of cool given the alternatives.
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waiopehu oldboy
Stirling Mortlock (74)
^ if the T1 is putting out an "A+" side there's no reason they couldn't play the T2 midweek or the Sunday after a NC match - just send some of the guys not in your NC 23 who don't need to be kept around in case they're suddenly needed to bolster the "A" lineup.
waiopehu oldboy
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Dan54
Tim Horan (67)
Good reading that WOB, especially the point he talks about promotion relegation would not affect 6Ns or RC, if a team from outside makes it perhaps just an extra test, down SH would make no difference.More info wrt selection of the two "invitational" teams & promotion/ relegation:
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
waiopehu oldboy
Stirling Mortlock (74)
^ I suspect a closed-shop 6N was the price of getting Italy on board. Not sure how they're gunna work e.g. Georgia into NC if they're not also part of 6N but they've got four or five years to figure it out 
As far as TRC goes I really want to see it expanded to six with promotion/ relegation from the earliest possible date.
As far as TRC goes I really want to see it expanded to six with promotion/ relegation from the earliest possible date.