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Inter-Hemisphere Series

  • 03-03-2008 6:39pm
    #1
    LeeroyJones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,954 ✭✭✭


    just wondering what peoples views are with this proposition for the 10 senior nations. Basically it would be every two years with the World Cup and Lions tour on the other two years.

    Personally I would prefer if they left it the way it is. I believe an Inter-Hemisphere Series would take away from the value of the World Cup.

    On a sidenote, what about a possibility of a second tier competition for lesser European teams-Georgia, Portugal and so on.... with the team finishing last in the 6Nations playing the Winners of the second tier in a promotion/relegation system. I would predict the 6Nations team always coming out on top for the first few years but it would put a bit of a purpose to the so called "minnows" season and maybe in a few years they could challenge


Comments

  • #2
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 28,119 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    LeeroyJones wrote: »
    just wondering what peoples views are with this proposition for the 10 senior nations. Basically it would be every two years with the World Cup and Lions tour on the other two years.

    Personally I would prefer if they left it the way it is. I believe an Inter-Hemisphere Series would take away from the value of the World Cup.

    Couldn't really care less about devaluing the world cup as I don't like it to begin with (though understand the necessity of it commercially speaking). Don't think this is necessary or wanted though with the over-congested calendar as it though. If teams simply went back to treating test rugby more seriously outside the 6/3 Nations and World Cup I'd be perfectly happy.
    On a sidenote, what about a possibility of a second tier competition for lesser European teams-Georgia, Portugal and so on.... with the team finishing last in the 6Nations playing the Winners of the second tier in a promotion/relegation system. I would predict the 6Nations team always coming out on top for the first few years but it would put a bit of a purpose to the so called "minnows" season and maybe in a few years they could challenge

    There already is a 6N B tournament (of sorts) called the European Nations Cup. It has Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain and the Czech Rep in it (though it has promotion/relegation with a lower again cup).

    However, it would be pointless having a play-off as things stand. For starters the commercial loss to one of the current teams would be devastating should they go down (as hideously unlikely as it would be). Georgia and Romania are the two strongest teams in the ENC, and both would struggle a ridiculous amount against the 6N teams - it would be pointless effectively. It would just devalue the tournament and make it lose its history etc. Yo-yoing into and out of the 6 Nations wouldn't do the lesser teams any good either.

    Eventually, one of Georgia or Romania (most likely the latter) will be brought into a 7N just like France and Italy have been allowed join and given a consistent run to get up to speed and start competing (which, as Italy and France have shown, can take upwards of a decade).


  • #3
    EdgarAllenPoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,686 ✭✭✭EdgarAllenPoo


    I'd like to see a series between the winners of the Super 14, Top 14, Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup or Magners League. Ok with the European competitions there's the odd chance one team could win two competitions but I'd still like to see something along these lines.


  • #4
    LeeroyJones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,954 ✭✭✭LeeroyJones


    Podge_irl wrote: »
    There already is a 6N B tournament (of sorts) called the European Nations Cup. It has Georgia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain and the Czech Rep in it (though it has promotion/relegation with a lower again cup).

    However, it would be pointless having a play-off as things stand. For starters the commercial loss to one of the current teams would be devastating should they go down (as hideously unlikely as it would be). Georgia and Romania are the two strongest teams in the ENC, and both would struggle a ridiculous amount against the 6N teams - it would be pointless effectively. It would just devalue the tournament and make it lose its history etc. Yo-yoing into and out of the 6 Nations wouldn't do the lesser teams any good either.

    Eventually, one of Georgia or Romania (most likely the latter) will be brought into a 7N just like France and Italy have been allowed join and given a consistent run to get up to speed and start competing (which, as Italy and France have shown, can take upwards of a decade).

    Yes but my point is that the ENC is doing little for lesser unions to advance. Yes going out of the 6Nations would be devestating but it would be on merit if any team was to be relegated and it would be a fantastic financial reward if a team did manage to break through.

    my reasons for coming up with this proposal are that if rugby is to advance as a world sport it needs to include others outside of the 6/Tri Nations. I dont think adding one team every 20 or so years to the 6 nations is much use.


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