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Major shakeup of international rugby proposed

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 31 Jan 2019, 9:26AM
Photo / Getty Images

Major shakeup of international rugby proposed

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 31 Jan 2019, 9:26AM

The introduction of a new international rugby competition has been met with mixed reaction.

British newspaper The Times has reported that a World Rugby Nations Championship would see the sport's 12 leading countries play each other once throughout the year ahead of a playoff series

The Times reported that World Rugby is looking to start the new competition in 2022 and that it would not be staged in Rugby World Cup years.

Chair of the Rugby Union writers club Sarah Mockford told Mike Hosking that there are many factors to take into consideration, including player welfare and an over supply of rugby.

"I think this is a good idea in theory, but there are numerous obstacles to overcome. To spread the game so its not always the big nations like England and France which get all of the cash is definitely a positive thing. But I don't think the professional clubs will like this at all to be honest.

Mockford says the format would try and ensure all rugby playing nations who are in the top 12 are more fairly represented.

"You would keep the six nations and the rugby championship, but Fiji, Japan or whoever would come into the championship and all teams would play each other across the year.

"At the end of the year they would come to Europe and play in the December tests and the top two teams would play off against each other to see who is the best in the world."

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