WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
This result will likely result in the necessary momentum particularly financially to see a 2nd Concepcion based squad enter SRA after the 2027 RWC.
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RWC 2027 Australia
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Jimmy_Crouch
Peter Johnson (47)
Just goes to show there needs to be a revenue sharing model or at least a mandate for top teams to tour lower teams for a certain number of tests.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
That would help but I don't know if it would result in better outcomes for the likes of Samoa. A major compliant tends to be the misappropriation of funds within the Union as opposed to not having enough money. Though that would also be an issue. Unlrss there is a way to ensure the money goes to where it is needed it might disappear down the usual black holes.
It's nothing new. I know the Samoan community in Sydney have fundraised on several occassions to support the team going on tour and camp leading into RWC's in the past.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
I feel for them. If they qualify for the WC the side they will run out could be a completely different XV to what is playing now and that part is not right. Clubs have these players by the absolute canastas and I can’t blame the players for pleasing the Clubs who pay them.
I said it a couple weeks ago but the side that lost only had 3 or 4 guys from the side that beat Italy last year in Apia. Thats a dramatic swing in performance level regardless of the venue.
I said it a couple weeks ago but the side that lost only had 3 or 4 guys from the side that beat Italy last year in Apia. Thats a dramatic swing in performance level regardless of the venue.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
And the big issue is that not that long ago a squad like the one that played in Vina Del Mar would have been good enough to have qualified without much problem and these issues could have been papered over. Not now.
Omar Comin'
Peter Fenwicke (45)
I don't see how it changes unless NZR and RA really take them under their wings like the NRL has, and make it a priority to lift the standards, level of competition, player availability and remuneration etc for Samoa and Tonga. That or some large benefactor decides to make it a passion project - has anyone asked Dwayne Johnson if Samoan rugby could be his 'Welcome to Wrexham' ?
If Samoa and Tonga could consistently pick their best 23 of eligible players for 9 or 10 test matches a year they'd be competitive with most tier 1 teams, most of the time.
The Ghost of Raelene
John Eales (66)
NRL has done well. They want to get to 20 sides and know the traditional development areas are probably at the level they’ll be forever so the PI is the place to be and that includes NZ.
I guess for RA and NZR they only have so much $$ and are working to get by themselves but I think you are right. WR (World Rugby) won’t give a shit when they can say it’s good to see other nations rise, which it is. My grip is the PI nations getting stretched unfairly.
I guess for RA and NZR they only have so much $$ and are working to get by themselves but I think you are right. WR (World Rugby) won’t give a shit when they can say it’s good to see other nations rise, which it is. My grip is the PI nations getting stretched unfairly.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
I'm not sure I could call receiving 50% of WR (World Rugby) total development budget for T2 Unions unfair treatment. A major issue with the likes of Tonga and Samoa more so than Fiji (though they are not without their issues) are the Unions themselves. Far too much mismanagement and self interest leading to players having to make decisions based on money as opposed to interest.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Well, they should be able to do that at for at least 6-7 games next year with the Nations Championship Div 2 mirroring the 1st Div. The big issue is the PNC (Pacific Nations Cup) window where timing tends to play a part in player availability. In terms of raising standards I'd like to see the Islands integrated further into our systems. WR (World Rugby) has been running a Pacific Combine since 2018. i think it would be an option to provide a pathway into say Super Rugby Aus for a squad composed of players from that squad as something they can work toward and showcase as an expansion of the combine process.
Additionally, it could be worthwhile looking to emulate this at the U16s and 19s levels if possible.
Omar Comin'
Peter Fenwicke (45)
It will be interesting to see how this plays out, but I could see plenty of their top players making themselves unavailable for it. Why risk injury to play for free in a 2nd division tournament in front of a couple of thousand people? There's not even a chance to gain promotion initially.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Why risk it at all? If that were the case none of the PI with the exception of perhaps Fiji would ever play their best squads. And something that has been proven in the RWCQ process is it's no longer good enough to scrap together teams against most of the T2 nations.
Jimmy_Crouch
Peter Johnson (47)
Yeah I like the idea of the Super teams being required to have 2-3 spots on their roster dedicated to developing nations players. I've spoken about this before, you could do a draft for those that want to nominate and just pay them all the same.
Unless World Rugby starts offering guaranteed match payments for World Cup qualifiers I can't really see how the situation is going to change. I also see little prospect of this ever happening because where do you start and stop it?
The financial impediment for a player to stop getting paid by their employer to fly across the world at their own expense to play for their country is too great for most people.
The financial impediment for a player to stop getting paid by their employer to fly across the world at their own expense to play for their country is too great for most people.
Omar Comin'
Peter Fenwicke (45)
If they can't get players making themselves available for world cup qualifiers, why do you think they'll make themselves available for the 2nd division of the nations championship?
World Cups and big tests against tier 1 opponents have prestige and put you in the shop window. The Nations Championship 2nd division will be played at some neutral venue in front of small crowds and only against other tier 2 teams, so I could just see clubs pressuring top tier players not to participate, and those players on big money not pushing back too hard.
That's true, but the World Cup qualifiers two years out from the RWC against Chile have absolutely none of that. They just result in these guys losing a chunk of money.
Omar Comin'
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Yep, and if they can't get players turning up for a world cup qualifier I'm not confident they'll get their best players turning up to play the same sorts of teams in the nations championship division 2. Maybe if it's held in Europe and there's some money in it.
Strewthcobber
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
World Rugby probably need to accept the inevitable and schedule all qualifiers outside of the Top 14 weekends. Windows simply don't work
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
The thing is, there were a number of French based players involved right until last weekend. And their availability only became an issue because Samoa failed to qualify via thr PNC (Pacific Nations Cup). So for 5 or the 6 weeks they had games the French based players were there.
