International Rugby

Test Rugby sits at the top of our rugby ecosystem and while it represents the most visible and newsworthy section of the game, it’s width obviously starts and ends with the Wallabies.

The ‘world league’ that the game’s powerbrokers have recently proposed is an intriguing prospect that may well provide a blueprint for how test rugby is structured in the future. I have concerns with parts of the concept from some of the details I’ve seen, however the strategy I put forward within this layer of the game could potentially fit within the parameters of a ‘world league’ that has a more global-focus.

Where I suggest we need to be directing most of our attention at the international layer of the game is our ‘regional’ test rugby competition that has been occupied by the Rugby Championship and the Tri Nations before that. This is the ‘bread and butter’ of the Wallabies season and should represent the jewel in the crown of test rugby outside of Europe. Unfortunately, it has become somewhat stale in recent years (even prior to the pandemic) and its status has come under further threat with suggestions that South Africa may hitch their wagon to the 6 Nations in years to come.

The structural changes outlined below aim to reverse this concerning trend while ensuring we have an annual competition to engage in that puts test rugby ‘up in lights’ between World Cups.

The Rugby Championship

Southern Conference

Argentina

Australia

New Zealand

South Africa

Northern Conference

Fiji

Japan

Samoa

Tonga

Teams plays other teams in their conference once over the first three weeks of the competition.
Teams are ranked one to four after this first phase before a ‘crossover’ round is held which represents the first game of the three-week playoff phase.
The first ranked team from each conference takes on the fourth ranked team from the opposing conference while the second ranked team from each conference takes on the third ranked team from the opposing conference.
The four winners of this crossover round advance to the semifinals while the four losers continue to play off over the next two weeks to decide finishing positions from five to eight.
With SANZAAR opening up their competition to Japan and the Pacific Islands, they host the four crossover games in Week 4 regardless of finishing position to ensure they play at least two fixtures at home during the Rugby Championship. The matchday revenue from these four games is pooled and split evenly across the eight participating unions.
The winners of games during the knockout phase continue to progress until the final in the 6th week of the Rugby Championship, while the loser’s playoff for lower positions depending on when they bow out of the knockout phase.
Home field advantage after the crossover round is decided by ranking following interconference games.
Matchday revenue accumulated amongst the semifinalists as they play in to the Final and Third-placed playoff is pooled and split evening across these four unions. The same applies to the four teams that playoff for fifth over the final two weeks.

Other Key Considerations

Games between the 3 original SANZAR partners are considered the ‘big drawcards’ in those countries so the draw in the Rugby Championship would ensure South Africa, New Zealand and Australia play one of their ‘tri nations rivals’ at home and one away each year.
The playoff phase isn’t played during Rugby World Cup years with just the first three weeks of the Rugby Championship held and no crossover games with the Northern Conference or subsequent playoff games.

The Bledisloe Cup

The Rugby Championship draw would also be structured in a way where Australia and New Zealand would play each other in the first week of the competition. This would represent Game Two of the Bledisloe Cup series.
Two weeks earlier and in the week following the three-week June test window, Australia and New Zealand would play Game 1 of the Bledisloe Cup. Australia would play this game away in years where they play New Zealand in The Rugby Championship at home and vice versa.
These two games would represent the Bledisloe Cup series and any playoff games between Australia and New Zealand beyond this point would only count towards honours in the Rugby Championship.

Summary

A reimagined Rugby Championship that incorporates an engaging ‘knockout’ phase where every game matters, whether it be for ladder position (phase one) or survival (phase two).
The Pacific Islands and the lucrative Japanese market are incorporated which provides these tier two nations with at least one game against the ‘big fish’ represented by SANZAAR and an opportunity to progress further and potentially win the tournament.
All teams are still guaranteed six games as per the Rugby Championship’s status quo.
When Australia plays New Zealand at home in Game One of the Bledisloe Cup, they play them and Argentina away and South Africa at home during the first three weeks of the Rugby Championship. This is reversed when the play New Zealand away in Game One of the Bledisloe Cup.
With the three inbound June Tests, this ensures there are at least six games played at home during non-World Cup years.
The concept would operate as Australia’s regional championship that would be the jewel in the crown of the test season. Together with the four-week June test window (three inbound tests and Bledisloe game one) and the four-week November test window, the test rugby calendar would provide a total of fourteen games per year.

International Rugby

The Rugby Championship

Rugby Championship Playoff Phase

The Bledisloe Cup

Summary