Danny Brosnan
With what is set to be the the last major summer tour series sanctioned by world rugby. Ireland head for a two game series against back to back world cup winners South Africa. Matches could be set for next year but this will be Irelands last time sending out a full strength available squad because of the Lions tour to Australia next season.
In 2026 the World Rugby Nations Championship for the ten countries from the rugby championship, six nations and two more countries comes into effect. With a Challenger Series for the best of the rest.
Is this really the best thing way forward for international rugby?
For me it’s not. Personally loved the summer tour series knowing it was going to be a good to watch even if the results didn’t go our way like South Africa in 2016 or the memories of the New Zealand tour just two years ago. For me it was a way for
supporters to go to visit these countries and meet other supporters. As well as people living there to get to see the team.
Yet I think some better international competitions could be used. Like the Churchill or Tbilisi Cups. Then again I’ve a biased view for using competitions for the Ireland A squads.
For me it’s not the way for World Rugby to get people into the game. Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s a business. Plus they want to grow the game. But they seem to be going about it the wrong way.
International rugby can be great for getting the casual supporters interested as well as coverage and sponsorship money. Yet the international teams need clubs, from local to top tier clubs.
The fact we have four big leagues, the URC, Top 14, English Premiership and Super Rugby, shows how hard it can be for a league to get noticed. Compared to UEFA and it’s five top leagues all within each countries limits could be something Rugby Europe or World Rugby could look into, with a few adjustments to suit our game.
The Rugby Europe Super Cup, a club competition, has helped somewhat with the likes of Spain, Portugal, Romania and Georgia. With giving players time to show there skill.
MLR has helped in ways for the USA and Canada. The same could probably be said for Super Rugby Americas.
Let’s not forget Japan Rugby League 1.
So more could be done for getting teams at club level involved to help. Which Super Rugby has done with two current islander teams. Former teams the Jaguars and Sunwolves helped both Argentina and Japan respectively in various ways.
I honestly feel World Rugby is putting the cart before the horse in this situation. Yet I know the symbiotic relationship between the international team getting the money to help the clubs get better. But the clubs need the love two. Let’s not for get that