Springboks to join Six Nations - report

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Nestle

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Cape Town - The Springboks' days in the Rugby Championship could be numbered, with a report linking the world champions with a move to the northern hemisphere's Six Nations after the next World Cup.

According to Mail Online website, negotiations have been going on behind the scenes for some time, with one source telling the British publication that "things are falling nicely into place."

The report added that the Six Nations would then become a seven-team event in 2024 instead of South Africa replacing the hapless Italy.

The benefits of the potential South African move north include an improved TV deal, easier travelling demands on players and similar kick-off times.
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www.sport24.co.za

Springboks to join Six Nations - report | Sport

The Springboks' days in the Rugby Championship could be numbered, with a report linking the world champions with a move to the Six Nations.
www.sport24.co.za www.sport24.co.za
 
This is the best thing that could have happened to South African Rugby!!
 
Change is as good as a holiday.

it's time after 20+ years ,same teams, same old
 
It's a good thing. Those two Australasian countries blow smoke up each others arses thinking how great they are.

Let NZ and Aus play each other until they get sick of each other. Our biggest economic partners are in Europe so let's make more cultural ties to it.

When I wanted to go to Aus I was told by the embassy it takes up to 40 days for a tourist visa. Then I have to get an airplane ticket. It's really absurd. Sport should impact tourism,business and cultural ties. Not be separate.
 
NZ always are sure they are the number 1 team in the world every year. Now suddenly they won't know as they won't play SA every year. That will teach those arrogant f'ers.
 
We are/ have been witnessing the slow decline of NZ Rugby from total world dominance, and more importantly the rise of lower tier nations, which all goes towards improving international competitions and spreading the good news to more countries world wide...

NZ had a f good innings though, 100 years
Respect.
 
Can't happen until 2026. Broadcasting deals signed until 2025. Even then, this is not set in stone and we are not even sure if Europe wants us.
 
Luke7777 said:
Their 6 Nations is running at the same time as our SuperRugby... so would that imply an end to our participation in both the RC and VSR ?
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Yes, it is noted somewhere in the rumours. We are already moving towards integration other unions into the Top 14.

SANZAAR will terminate. New stakeholders, excluding SA, in the Southern Hemisphere will need to come together, likely with North and South American, Pacific and Asian partners.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Yes, it is noted somewhere in the rumours. We are already moving towards integration other unions into the Top 14.

SANZAAR will terminate. New stakeholders, excluding SA, in the Southern Hemisphere will need to come together, likely with North and South American, Pacific and Asian partners.
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They could of called the Pacific Rugby Union but Argentina isn't on the Pacific, they are really close though
 
Luke7777 said:
Their 6 Nations is running at the same time as our SuperRugby... so would that imply an end to our participation in both the RC and VSR ?
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Let's hope...Super Rugby has become tedious as fuk TBH.

A change will revitalise the sport and put an end to this ridiculous traveling schedules.
 
MightyQuin said:
Let's hope...Super Rugby has become tedious as fuk TBH.

A change will revitalise the sport and put an end to this ridiculous traveling schedules.
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Totally agreed..

Super Rugby is now merely an excuse to have a dop and a braai... not actually to care that much about the rugby, when it used to be the other way around.
 
Anyone saw the Club World Cup proposal?

www.standard.co.uk

Rugby Club World Cup: How would proposed new competition work?

As is the case with sports around the world, the current coronavirus shutdown has thrown up no shortage of crises, questions and radical ideas in rugby union.
www.standard.co.uk www.standard.co.uk

Rugby Club World Cup: How would proposed new competition work?
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As is the case with sports around the world, the current coronavirus shutdown has thrown up no shortage of crises, questions and radical ideas in rugby union.

Domestic and continental competitions around the globe - as well as the latter stages of the Six Nations - have ground to a halt or been called off altogether and many international tours and fixtures are now in serious doubt, sparking further huge financial concerns for unions and clubs everywhere.

While previous proposals for a new Nations Championship beginning in 2022 were scrapped last year due to a lack of support, former France and Toulon head coach Bernard Laporte believes the significant impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic mean it is time for further innovation to keep the game afloat.

The current French Rugby Federation president - who is seeking to be elected as Bill Beaumont's vice-president of World Rugby next month - has garnered headlines in recent days by proposing a Club World Cup.

"This crisis must push us to be innovative," he said. "Let's make this new competition, I'm sure that the public, partners and televisions will follow.

"Faced with today's threats, we need to move the lines, increase aid and imagine what rugby will be like tomorrow."

What is Laporte's proposal?
Speaking to French newspaper Midi Olympique on Monday, Laporte - the former French Secretary of State for Sport - said he had been working with Beaumont on plans to potentially restructure the international calendar and create a new window dedicated for clubs, allowing for a new, 20-team global club tournament.

Such a competition - to be held annually outside of World Cup years - would see the semi-finalists from France's Top 14 and the English Premiership, the top four from the Pro14, the top six from Super Rugby and the respective champions from Japan's Top League and Major League Rugby in the USA divided into four pools consisting of five teams.

This replicates the current World Cup format, with the top two finishers from each group then progressing through to the quarter-finals, with semi-finals and the final to follow.

The idea would be for the tournament to take place across a condensed six-week time frame during the summer.

What about the Champions Cup?
Under Laporte's proposal, in order not to overload the calendar and to free up more space, the Heineken Champions Cup would be scrapped, with nine weekends made available as a result.

His justification for this is that the current top-level European competition does not make enough cash in comparison to a global club tournament, which he hopes can generate the funds needed to allow unions to finance the game at professional and amateur level.

"The European competition is magnificent," Laporte said. "With Toulon I was able to lift the trophy three times and I know what it can represent.

"But let's be frank, it doesn't generate enough income. If we want to develop this Club World Cup, we have to find dates."

What has the reaction been?
Laporte said that RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney and those in charge of the Top 14 were "excited" by the project.

However, Bath owner Bruce Craig believes a Club World Cup should not be under the control of World Rugby.

He told The Guardian: “This project is a club competition, not an international tournament and must therefore be piloted by the clubs; it should not be placed under the aegis of World Rugby.

"Whatever happens in the coming months, club rugby must remain managed by the clubs, it is non-negotiable.”

In a statement released on Monday night, European Professional Club Rugby - the governing body that organises the Champions and Challenge Cups - revealed that they had already held talks with shareholders over a new global club tournament.

However, one that would complement - rather than replace - the existing European competitions and take place every four years, rather than annually.

"Work on possible formats is ongoing with a collaborative approach and issues of player welfare to the fore," the statement read.

"EPCR does not believe it appropriate to highlight such discussions while the public health crisis due to COVID-19 continues, and currently, the organisation’s focus is on attempting to reschedule the knockout stages of the 2019/20 tournaments subject to government and local authority directives."

What is the next step?
Laporte said the proposal will be detailed in Beaumont and his election manifesto, which is being sent out to individual federations this week.

The World Rugby elections are due to take place next month, with Laporte replacing Agustin Pichot as Beaumont's vice-chair candidate.
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I believe it is a good proposal though I don't understand how it will work with us having teams in the PRO14, unless contracts are globally centralised which has its own pros and cons. This would also ultimately mean that some current competitions will be trimmed down and encourage countries like Japan to grow their own home game than pushing them into other competitions.

For once I like an idea punted by a union.

Ignoring centralised contracts, our unions should also be enabled to privatise. A competition like this has private stakes.
 
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