Think you answered your own question there, really 😀
It's a professional and the game is financially on its knees in places.
It also opens the pathway for countries outside of the top 12 (Fiji and Japan are bound to be the other 2 countries) to join the big time. Although what happens to the 6Ns if one of those countries is relegated?
Also the likes of Portugal and Uruguay will be guaranteed matches against some better teams than they would usually play which should aid their development.
I see the other thing is a Pacific Nations Cup for Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, USA and Canada. Shame they didn't manage to fit Chile and Uruguay in. I know Uruguay doesn't border the Pacific but still, it seems like a missed opportunity.
The running of the competition is done by the 6 nations and SANZAR. Therefore when promotion and relegation kicks in 2030. Do you honestly think one of the big teams will be relegated. Rules will be changed by then.
No expansion of the game whatsoever. Closed shop.
I know I did. It was the point.
The WC expands to 24 as well in 2027. Round of 16. 4 teams in a pool. 2 qualify plus 4 best runners up. The date of the draw as late as possible.
Thread on these changes here: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058319416/new-world-rugby-calendar-and-world-cup-format#latest
Think this is big enough news to warrant it's own thread.
Precisely: there's next to zero chance any risk will be taken that the "big teams" will get relegated. It's breadcrumbs stuff for the lower Tiers - though the expansion of the World Cup is at least a good move to allow more opportunities for smaller teams to get exposure to higher level matches. And the smaller groups of 6 x 4 teams means we might see a shock or two.
I think promotion/relegation will only apply to the non 6 nations/Rugby Championship sides. So Japan/Fiji most likely can drop down
i think Spain & Portugal should bid without Italy. No physical connection between Italy and the other two which means you are spreading out.
My biggest gripe though for this RWC was the ticketing website. A complete and utter farce.
Eddie Jones has resigned
Honestly nothing less than rugby Australia deserve given their insane decision to bring him in to begin with.
Well if he has resigned then RA avoid having to pay out so they'd be getting more than they deserve given their insane decision.
Not sure who would take them on now after all that happened in the last 12 months. They should be begging Rennie to come back, yes it's a poison chalice but if he can steady the ship and win a couple of games, it would do wonders for his reputation.
The rumour is he's returning to Japan too, which seems like a slightly baffling move by Japanese Rugby.
Himself and the Japanese RU president are extremely pally pally
Right. Mystery solved there. Wonder what Japanese rugby heads and fans think of that. How much capital the Brighton Miracle might still buy him for a return. I think Japan underperformed at the WC, but their own problems are unique as anyone else's.
Australia have bottomed out and any coach can now do basically whatever they want. They have a lot of very good players and a home WC coming up, their biggest issue, like a lot of unions and WR itself, is that the organisation is top heavy with old boys and incompetents. Still though, Australia should be there or thereabouts come the next world cup.
Australia had their own unique problem in EJ (plus several others tbf), Japan would be insane to add him on top of their other problems.
Whilst I 100% agree with you , is there an argument to be made that his authoritarian style might be a better fit to the Japanese psyche than elsewhere??
Unlike any of his other gigs he left Japan with lots of positive statements , whereas everywhere else he was effectively chased out of the place.
except a load of Japan's players aren't Japanese.
A pretty strong majority of them are.
And yes. I think he'll get away with his antics there more.
Quesada is new Italy coach
That's a helluva job to pick that squad up from the shambles of that World Cup; not to mention fixing the reputational damage done. Even the most determined Italy Rugby evangelists would have struggled to find positives from those matches against NZ & France. Or indeed the Uruguay game.
2025 Lions tour rights picked up by Sky.
https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/12998128/sky-sports-to-exclusively-show-2025-british-and-irish-lions-tour-of-australia-three-tests-and-six-warm-up-matches
Surely that tour has the potential to be a total damp squib given how poor Australia are? You’d expect any of the Irish provinces to comfortably beat them at the moment never mind the pick of Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland.
Wayne Barnes retires.
Wayne Barnes is comfortably the best referee I've ever seen. He explained his decisions better than any referee in the game and generally had the respect of the players.
In terms of English referees there's only really Luke Pearse who comes close.
is that the bastard child of matthew carley and luke pearce ? 😅
I was thinking of referees who aren't the best and got them conflated. Matthew Carley and Karl Dickson are two I really don't have much time for. Always seems as if the players don't know what they're being penalised for.
agreed, Carley is way too fussy and doesnt really have a feel for the tempo of a game, kind of like the antithesis to Ben O Keeffe. Karl Dickson had a good lengthy career as a scrum half so youd expect him to have a better understanding, but his communication can let him down a lot of the time. Sometimes i get the impression from him that his emotions actually take over.
So, who will the kiwis blame now?
