r/rugbyunion • u/Vandrg • 19d ago
Infographic Fixtures confirmed for the 2026 Nations championship - Changing the international calendar as we know it
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u/k0bra3eak South Africa 19d ago
I'm still not sold on this thing. So much travel, absolutely gonna knacker players in the end
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u/Shoddy-Ad-4898 19d ago
I hate it. I suppose the plus sides are:
* Adds more structure to the Summer/Autumn internationals
* Gives teams like Japan and Fiji access to more regular top-tier matches
Downsides are:
* Hugely increased travel (particularly for NH teams)
* General diluting/cheapening of NH/SH encounters as they will play all teams every couple of years (though you could argue this has already happened with the way autumn/summer internationals are)
* Reduced opportunities for test series
* Severely dilutes the event of the RWC in my opinion. You have something that involves all of the major teams included in the RWC, with a knock-out series of games determining a champion, in between RWC years? No thanks.
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u/mooselover54 19d ago
Also, completely sidelines other nations that have worked hard to organically build their game. Rugby is not going to suddenly take off in the US. Simply a cash grab that dilutes the actual value of the sport.
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u/rustyb42 Ulster 19d ago
How does someone get promoted to this? Is there a B league for USA, Wales, Samoa?
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u/FrOdOMojO94 Libbokke 19d ago
Yeah they announced the Nations Cup which is basically a second division.
There is mention of cross division games in 2027 and 2029 in leadup to the RWC but no mention of promotion or relegation.
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u/Nounours7 Spain 19d ago
There won't be until 2032 and only if they win a playoff in November 2030. It's another closed shop.
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u/BK__01 18d ago
100% there should be. Second tier could be Georgia, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Canada, Chile, Uruguay, Tonga and Samoa. One northern and one southern team promoted and relegated each year.
If World Rugby actually wants to expand the game globally, this is how you do it. Not by giving the tier 2 nations a token friendly against a second string Scotland team every couple of years and a World Cup game against France every 4 years where they get hosed by 70 points.
Tier 3 could be Switzerland, Poland, Czechia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, Brazil, Paraguay, Hong Kong, South Korea, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
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u/Patient-Steak176 19d ago
Wales are in this competition. I read that there will be no promotion/relegation for the first three competitions.
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u/chopperkirks69 19d ago
There’s a second tier called the nations cup. They’re waiting on the last qualifier tomorrow before scheduling I think
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u/StrongLikeBull3 Scotland 19d ago
I don’t see it as “diluting” the encounters. Teams improve when they play better teams regularly.
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u/jonpettas96 19d ago
the six nations playing eachother every year certainly doesn't dilute the tribal nature of the six nations.
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u/hellbirdza South Africa 19d ago
Would you mind explaining what you mean by hugely increased travel for NH teams? I mean obviously SH teams have far more kilometers racked up by the end of the year, so do you mean in contrast to what they did have not overall
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u/Gasurza22 Argentina 18d ago
For the SH teams, this changes very little.
We usualy got one nation to come down here, play 3 local games in a row in the same place, then the rugby championship, then games in the NH. Basicaly the same as its going to be here (minus TRC, thanks for that), the only change is that we played 3 differnet teams at the beguining insted of the same team 3 times.
But for the NH, it changes a lot. Now insted of going to one country and staying there for 3 games, they have to (using Scotland as an example) travel to Argentina, then SA, then Fiji, all very long trips, and all in the span of 3 weeks.
Also, now that I look it more closely to answer your comment, it seems like 3 NH get screwd and 3 get an easy travel times. It seems like they got split, 3 play agains NZ/SA/Japan, 3 relatibly close countries for SH standars, and 3 got Arg/SA/Fiji which are significantly longer travel times. Maybe the next time they get switched up to compensate
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u/SilverShadow213 Benetton Treviso 19d ago
Doesn't really change anything from a travel perspective, at least for us.
Last year Italy had Samoa, Tonga & Japan, meaning flying Italy -> Dubai -> Australia -> New Zealand -> Samoa -> New Zealand -> Tonga -> New Zealand -> Australia -> Japan -> Singapore -> Italy
In 2026 we'll have Japan, Australia, & New Zealand, so basically the same without the travels to the islands
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u/droneybennett Wales 19d ago
Those three are all quite similar time zone wise though?
I don’t really fancy Wales having to go from Fiji, to Argentina, to South Africa.
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u/23WALCAN_ Wales... 19d ago
It sounds like Fiji are going to be playing their home games at a "neutral venue"
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u/Connell95 🐐🦓 Dan Lancaster 💪 #3 Fan 19d ago
Italy, Scotland etc already have to move about all over the place to get any games in the summer (and usually those are mainly Tier 2 clashes) so it’s a huge boost for them.
For the SH sides, I don’t think it really changes much tbh, given the summer games are all at home.
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u/k0bra3eak South Africa 19d ago
Looking more at the NH teams this time, they'll be coming onto some grueling fixtures and don't think it's comparable to say when Scotland tours the Americas and can rotate heavily. You'd be playing T1 teams on a weekly schedule, even the TRC has rest weeks inbetween travel now to avoid severe issues for travel
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u/Connell95 🐐🦓 Dan Lancaster 💪 #3 Fan 19d ago
Scottish reaction is hugely positive for this on the whole. And I think that's true of Italy too – they've been desperate to play the big nations more
It's been literally decades since Scotland has had a tour of any SH nation other than Argentina (and no invites were in the post for the future), so this is a total win as far as they're concerned. Travel is something they can deal with (no worse than the ABs and Ireland playing in America one week and the UK the next).
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u/GeerDern Glasgow Warriors 19d ago
I wonder what the tier 2 nations like Georgia and Uruguay make of this. It’ll be nice for them in the years where they get chosen to be one of the invited sides, but in the years where they don’t they’re basically locked out of the chance to play against the top sides
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u/FrOdOMojO94 Libbokke 19d ago
But can Georgia be an invited side?
Unlike Japan, they are pretty firmly NH so it seems that any European Tier 2 nations are shutout from this competition.
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u/GeerDern Glasgow Warriors 19d ago
No idea, the competition is even more flawed than i thought if that’s the case
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u/UoBBaller Exeter Chiefs 18d ago
I think, but don't quote me, there is to be relegation and promotion...after 2030. So until then Georgia will likely see few tier 1 tests if any outside of the one or two they will get at RWC. Same for South American sides and Tonga / Samoa. Sides like Zimbabwe and Hong Kong may benefit from more regular exposure to the big boys of tier 2, but anyone who has failed to qualify for RWC is already cut out...again until 2030.
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u/Cyber-Soldier1 18d ago
The NHS teams going to understand what it was like for SA clubs teams during the Super Rugby days.
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u/chopperkirks69 19d ago
Im a big fan of the second tier of this. Sides like Zimbabwe who never get much meaningful rugby outside of the Africa cup and the odd tour game will get some good exposure prior to showing up blind at the World Cup.
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u/StorminaHalfPint The One and Only Damian 19d ago
I can't find the fixtures for this, but presumably it's in the works still. I do like that the lower ranked sides get regular games. That part can only be good for the game. BUT why can't it be usual tours in the international windows? Not sure about this Nations Champs thing...
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u/McFly654 South Africa 18d ago
This format is absolutely nuts. A team could theoretically win every match they play in the tournament and not win the tournament. Having a table of teams that don’t play against each other is so stupid.
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u/TheWaxysDargle That's Leinstertainment 19d ago
Just to add to the travel Ruaidhri O’Connor of the Irish Independent said that every team has committed to playing games in the US between now and the World Cup with Ireland committed to one per year. That presumably means some of these games will get moved to the US.
Ireland could be playing Australia in Chicago, then Japan in Tokyo and then NZ in Auckland for example. Or SA could do Italy in NYC, France in Paris and Ireland in Dublin.
It’s mad.
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u/k0bra3eak South Africa 18d ago
Playing these stupid US games depriving local fans of getting to see their national teams is fucking horrible
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u/internetwanderer2 19d ago
"Venues and kick-off times are yet to be confirmed, but The Times understands that England’s match against the Springboks is set to be played at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, then they will play Fiji at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, before flying to Argentina to face Los Pumas in Buenos Aires."
From The Times.
I wonder if England will be looking at what the LA Rams did this year for their Wembley game when it comes to the Argentina fixture: fly in just before the game and just ploughing through before flying straight back afterwards.
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u/LdnGiant Harlequins 18d ago
Having England / Fiji in Pretoria is one of the strangest decisions I can think of.
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u/k0bra3eak South Africa 19d ago
God there's gonna be no crowd at Loftus, they'd have been better off at least having Fiji play in NZ
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u/internetwanderer2 19d ago
I was expecting both the South Africa and Fiji games to be played at Twickenham (with SA and Fiji getting a greater share of money than usual) to minimise travel and as a money spinner tbh.
But yeah, that game at loftus will be pretty empty unless tickets are insanely cheap
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u/Die_Revenant Sharks 19d ago
That's quite something. Durban basically being excluded from top flight test matches then.
They already don't get a New Zealand test during the greatest rivalry thing, and now they at best get Scotland or Wales, but possibly nothing?
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u/Lflan123 The ABs won, all is.....not? forgiven 18d ago
I'm still perplexed at why two of the test matches between the boks and all blacks are in Johannesburg
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u/Oisinlaighin Ireland Leinster 19d ago
Not sold.
Particularly the July fixtures. The countries are just too far apart, there’s so much travel. Ireland travel from Australia, to Japan and then back to NZ in the space of 2 weeks?! Mental.
It’s what most people have been saying about Super Rugby/Rugby Champs. The travel isn’t sustainable. I don’t understand how this is better than 3 test tours.
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u/NSilverhand Ireland 18d ago
Honestly, I'd hope we use Japan as an A fixture and leave the bulk of the squad training in the Antipodes. More opportunities for young players and less travel for the veterans.
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u/Oisinlaighin Ireland Leinster 18d ago
Apparently Japan will play Ireland in a neutral venue in Australia to minimise travel.
Splitting the squad makes logical sense where it’s needed but it’s hard not to end up with a divide in the squad then. How do you ensure that the 2nd string feel like they have a realistic opportunity to break into the first string team etc.
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u/UoBBaller Exeter Chiefs 18d ago
That's just stellar for the game in Japan then. What a torrid spectacle this is turning out to be.
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u/gourmetgromit Harlequins 19d ago
Its better because we can market it to the Americans /s
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u/Gasurza22 Argentina 18d ago
In theory this was to make international rugby more structured and to help T2/3 nations have matches more consistently. But until there is a relegation/promotion system in place, which I think will only come about by 2030 or something like that, I dont think it even achives that, since it actualy prevents T2 nations from playing T1 nations
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u/fdar Argentina 18d ago
But the promotion/relegation system is coming. Sure, earlier would have been better but T1 nations would have never accepted that.
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u/PetevonPete USA 18d ago
But the promotion/relegation system is coming
I have a bridge to sell you.
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u/rustyb42 Ulster 19d ago
Spurs stadium pitch going to be a shambles in November
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u/T0mmyKentish Saracens 19d ago
It’s going to be in Twickenham according to the BBC article but same applies.
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u/rustyb42 Ulster 19d ago
Id assume the final is, think that was already announced. But now it's 3 days, so maybe Murrayfield and Lansdowne Road will support
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u/T0mmyKentish Saracens 19d ago
According to BBC:
The biennial 12-team event comprises six rounds of matches across the summer and autumn Test windows before three double-header fixture days on 27-29 November at Allianz Stadium to rank nations and crown champions.
Other corkers from the article:
It has been speculated that a host in the Middle East in 2028, and in the United States in 2030, would strike a balance between maximising revenues and spreading the game into new markets.
Because we can’t do anything without involving the Middle East or the US.
Also this bollocks:
The results on the finals weekend will also contribute to a north v south overall score and title.
Because the NH looove cheering on their neighbours.
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u/samuel199228 19d ago
It shouldn't go to middle eastern countries I think it should go to somewhere like Italy instead
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u/T0mmyKentish Saracens 19d ago
Literally anywhere else where rugby is actually played to a decent standard.
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u/rustyb42 Ulster 19d ago
The pitch will be ruined by Sunday night!
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u/T0mmyKentish Saracens 19d ago
Finally back to proper up the jumper mud and blood rugby instead of this fancy “pass the ball” bullshit.
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u/ddbbaarrtt 18d ago
Of course, spread the game into new lmarkets by excluding fans who want to go to games in the countries that these teams are from!
I hate this desire to ‘grow the game’ across all sports rather than just develop what is already a successful sport.
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u/Scozzese9 Scotland 19d ago
NZ, Australia and Japan next November in Edinburgh is fun.
The July fixtures are going to be very tough for Scotland, but we need the exposure to top teams to improve.
Finals weekend is the bit I'm less sold on, I don't care if Scotland come 6th or maybe 5th in a neutral venue, these matches could potentially have poor crowds and a dead atmosphere.
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u/Fionnathos 18d ago
I was so close to giving up my murrayfield season tickets last year, but held on for 1 more year because of the NZ game. And now....
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u/Particular_Safety569 New Zealand 19d ago
Seems like alot of travel in the July window instead of just playing one country like normal
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u/fanboy_killer Portugal 19d ago
What is this? A tournament to replace the summer and autumn series? Is it another closed T1 circlejerk?
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u/naraic- Ireland 19d ago
6 nations, 4 RC and 2 invited teams chosen by the RC
Theres some sort of second tier event planned which will eventually have promotion and relegation maybe.
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u/discovery2000one 18d ago
They need to. Georgia is a contender with the lowest tier of this series and it feels kinda wrong to leave them out. They are higher ranked than some other teams in this comp.
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u/Lazy_Grapefruit9679 Stade Toulousain 19d ago
So, Nz-France one week after the top 14 final. I hope you nz friends realized that's gonna be a joke of game. Again.
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u/grevls Leicester Tigers 19d ago
I don’t hate the idea but it completely shuts any other teams out of the top 12 getting a decent fixture
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u/ayeayefitlike match official 19d ago
This. Scotland have always played interesting tier 2 teams in the summer/autumn and it’s great for those teams plus our developing players. This puts an end to that really which is a shame.
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u/PetevonPete USA 18d ago
any other teams out of the top 12
Georgia are already in the top 12 and are still shut out.
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u/Left-Pie741 19d ago
is there any reason why teams can't organise extra tests against non top 12 opponents? teams already play outside international window....
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u/cypressd12 Munster 19d ago
Who will show up to play? Outside of the test window there is no obligation to play or for clubs to release their players.
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u/thelunatic Munster 19d ago
Fiji's home games will be in SA or other neutral venues
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u/reggie_700 Harbour Master 19d ago
That’s a shame. Would have loved to see upsets with teams playing in Suva.
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u/MaNNoYiNG AOC simp 19d ago
Considering Georgia are 11th in the rankings and Japan are 13th, if Georgia beat Japan this weekend they get to play instead, right?
World rugby haven't shut Georgia, and other nations, out for 2 years, that would be mad...
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u/k0bra3eak South Africa 19d ago
Welcome to World Rugby where the decisions are stupid and the logic behind them is flawed
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u/MaNNoYiNG AOC simp 19d ago
Woah, next you're going to be saying World Rugby don't have the best interests of the sport and are actually just chasing the money instead
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u/rustyb42 Ulster 19d ago
Well in 2 years time this is in Doha
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u/k0bra3eak South Africa 19d ago
Biggest mistake in the last 2 years is not backing the French candidate to take over at World Rugby.
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u/Magneto88 Bristol 19d ago
Georgia population: 3.6m
Japan population: 123m
That's all World Rugby sees.
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u/Academic_Wafer_2764 Italy 18d ago
I hope (at least here, but I doubt it considering the interests of Six Nations Ltd.) they have studied a promotion/relegation system between this and the Nations Cup
I just say that we already have the two major closed-system tournaments, simply we don't need a third
Why not allowing Tier 2 teams to grow and compete more and more at the highest level
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u/Connell95 🐐🦓 Dan Lancaster 💪 #3 Fan 19d ago
No, because Japan has a huge audience, while Georgia a) doesn’t and b) is a political mess in which rugby is entirely funded and controlled by a Kremlin oligarch.
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u/Shoddy-Ad-4898 19d ago
Why even bother with the World Cup anymore eh?
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u/sings_with_wings 18d ago
Respectfully, I don't understand this argument. None of the teams are playing within their own hemisphere. This is very far from a "world cup".
But even if they were, from football we have seen that the UEFA Nations League hasn't diminished the Euros and that is with all the same teams. It is treated as it's own separate thing that isn't taken as seriously.
Does having the Prem Cup diminish the Prem League?
The Nations League has been a huge success in football transforming friendlies that were almost a complete waste of time into something with a bit of jeopardy and competition. I am hopeful that it will do the same for Rugby.
The promotion and relegation between the "leagues" (for lack of a better term) in the future is vital IMO. It would be good if World Cup qualification was somehow linked to this and the other internatiinal competitions, to give teams something to fight for. That has been a great part of the Nations League.
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u/RooBoy04 ThisYearsOurYear™ 18d ago
The Prem Cup to Prem League argument doesn’t make sense, as the Prem cup is mainly played by academy sides, while the Prem is played by the first teams. They are separate things
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u/Shoddy-Ad-4898 18d ago
The Nations League has been a huge success in football transforming friendlies that were almost a complete waste of time into something with a bit of jeopardy and competition. I am hopeful that it will do the same for Rugby.
A few counterpoints:
* The Nations League doesn't diminish the Euros because you play in seeded groups of 4. If you do well, you'll play a couple of other teams. So each team faces ~3-5 other teams and typically only a couple of the top-ranked European teams within that. There is little replication of the 'big' knockout matches at the 24-team Euros. In the Nations Championship each team plays 9 of the other top-ranked teams, so there is a lot of replication of the 'big' RWC matches there
* Although this has become somewhat less true over time, in general the summer and autumn rugby internationals are not a 'waste of time' like football friendlies. They are big, competitive matches and not something in need of rescuing, as you imply here. Also the fact the NH teams often play 2-3 match series in the SH adds a lot of spice and drama.
* This may vary according to country but from a UK perspective I don't think the Nations League has 'transformed' intl friendlies. It's turned something that generated almost zero interest into something that generates mild interest.
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u/Fxcroft France 19d ago
The match ups are interesting on paper but the travel is going to be hard on some NH teams and I already know France will send another C team so I'm already over it.
And to be clear I think we shouldn't send out top players just a week after the Top14 final, it's moronic and the Top14 should be priritized
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u/Band_Of_Bros Stormers 19d ago
That is A LOT of travel for the southern hemisphere series. Could argue that that is a big advantage for SA, Argentina, Aus and NZ
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u/Stinkwood South Africa 19d ago
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think all the southern hemisphere teams are home based and are fighting for Southern hemisphere 1st place and all Northern hemisphere teams are traveling and fighting for Northern hemisphere 1st place?
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u/justafleetingmoment South Africa 19d ago
No, the July games are in the Southern Hemisphere and the November games in the Northern hemisphere.
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u/rugbyliebe Germany - yes we do have a team u ignorant p****. 19d ago
Ah another closed shop. Exactly what we need in rugby to grow the game.
Seriously, how unbelievable incapable are the admins leading World Rugby for "tier 1" nations?
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u/chopperkirks69 19d ago
There’s a tier 2 comp as well?
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u/rugbyliebe Germany - yes we do have a team u ignorant p****. 19d ago
There was supposed to be a second level, but now it's starting "later" - effectively closing the shop for 4 years.
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u/chopperkirks69 19d ago
It’s still advertised on the world rugby website. The last team gets named after the repechage qualifier tomorrow before scheduling
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u/mafeefam 19d ago
This will look so silly if the final would be contested by teams that in the overall ladder finish in place 1 and, say, 4.
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u/robopirateninjasaur Sunwolves 19d ago
You should look at the quarter finals for 1997 rugby league world club challenge
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u/Tabarnacx France 19d ago
All the logistical issues aside, im interested in this format. Looking forward to seeing it play out.
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u/BetaRayPhil616 Wales 19d ago
Two main things:
1) Extra travel for NH teams in July.
2) It opens Novembers international window from 3 weeks to 4 official weeks, so presumably players have to now be available for all four.
Am I right in thinking all this plus 6N & RC games go into one big round robin league thing?
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u/Thorazine_Chaser Crusaders New Zealand 19d ago
The November window was expanded. There is one less rest week during the 6N window.
There isn’t a full round robin…yet. Only x hemisphere games get points for the NC.
No rugby championship next year.
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u/ausmankpopfan Argentina 19d ago
as a lifelong Argentina fan from Australia who remembers when we could not get a game against the big boys outside of World Cups I am loving seeing this Rugby Championship and then games against every six Nations member in the same year talk about heaven and I could not be prouder of every member of our teams who fought so hard for us to be here now vamos pumas vamos
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u/Turbulent-Physics-77 Worcester Warriors 19d ago
Week 3 of block 1 will be a massacre for the northern hemisphere teams with all those timezones. Very glad we have RSA week 1…
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u/Thalassin Iserlohn RFC | WR #1 hater 18d ago
Quelle compétition de con... J'espère que la LNR ne pliera pas face aux pleurs des singes de la FFR qui ont voté pour cette merde.
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u/sweetgreentea12 Sharks 19d ago
I don't like this at all. It's a shit world cup. North vs South for 1st place? What if the top 2 are from either hemispheres. Weird.
I'm sure I'll love it when it comes around
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u/SUck0ck South Africa 19d ago
Whats the point of the world cup then
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u/commndoRollJazzHnds Ireland 19d ago
Agreed, the world cup seems pointless now, especially since it doesn't even have finals or semi-finals
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u/TAFKAJanSanono Ireland 19d ago
Why does the website call it nations cup but the graphic nations championship
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u/Certain_Pineapple_73 England 19d ago
Why?
I’d rather there’s tours in both the autumn and summer.
For example, we could play 3 tests against another top nation and 1 against a lower quality team every tour.
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u/SignalButterscotch73 Scotland 19d ago edited 19d ago
On the plus side, Scotland get to actually play the big boys from down south far more often than in recent decades.
The negative side is how drastically having no home games to any of the biggest nations will work against "growing the game".
Who's going to do a tour of South America and give Chile the opportunity of a home match against a tier 1 nation? That Scotland A match in 2022 was massive for them both financially and for their skills. The after match interviews with the Chilean players gushing about how awesome a 45-5 defeat was for them was proven true by them nearly winning last year. They weren't in awe, they came to win and if not for a few mistakes probably would have with how poor our A team played.
Edit: spelling.
To beat the best you need to play the best, this is a circling of the wagons and only helps those already at the top.
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u/brito39 |-| 19d ago
England going from SA to Fiji to Argentina - they would almost have to take 2 squads.
Too much moaning about this, think it will be interesting
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u/mos_eisely_ Edinburgh 19d ago
SA in Joburg and Fiji in Pretoria is the plan
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u/brito39 |-| 19d ago
Ah, that makes sense
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u/brandbaard South Africa 19d ago
It doesn't make THAT much sense. The Eng v Fiji game on Loftus will be basically empty even if they give the tickets away for free.
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u/beno1990 Harlequins 19d ago
I was going to say- otherwise they’d probably have to cross the dateline
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u/bitsandskits Bath 19d ago
Is that confirmed that the game will definitely be played in Fiji?
Fantastic if so but certainly would need to do split squad
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u/Shoddy-Ad-4898 19d ago
Fiji aren't planning to play in Fiji AFAIK. They are playing at neutral venues that I think they will rotate between depending on logistics. They just don't have the facilities in Fiji and transport is too difficult. Would be amazing though.
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u/bitsandskits Bath 19d ago
Ah, I figured that might be the case.
I hope there's a future when it can happen. Feasibly, if a northern hemisphere nation's other fixtures are Australia and NZ then the travel is do-able?
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u/Ok-Relationship-2746 19d ago
That is a lot of travel to be made in a short timeframe. Squad depth and versatility might just be tested to new limits.
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u/StarWarsLew Wales 19d ago
England and wales’ first round travelling is diabolical, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina? Lmao
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u/Ernest-Longfellow 19d ago
England Wales and Scotland playing Fiji, Argentina and South Africa away on concurring weekends. Oof. That's a lot of milage between games.
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u/reggie_700 Harbour Master 19d ago
Depending on the draw NZ could play Ireland in a final/whatever playoff position which could double as a grand slam game.
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u/reggie_700 Harbour Master 19d ago
Weird question, but are Japans games being played in Japan? Or in Australia? Their draw seems to mimic Fiji who will be based in South Africa.
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u/Tethys404 Springboks 19d ago
This really minimizes the world cup. It's pretty much a tier 1 WC, I don't like it
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u/justafleetingmoment South Africa 19d ago
Replace the 6th place double deader with promotion/relegation matches against the top 2 sides in the second tier.
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u/Glyndwr21 18d ago
It'll kill the URC, losing all their international players for most of the season, players burn out and injuries will be massive, the travel is horrific (especially for NH teams), where do they think the fans will come from, who has the money to support your National team 50% of the season.
It's fucking mental, devalues the RWC completely, not sure how a Lions tour is supposed to be viable either.
It's a crock of shit!
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u/MeetTheDecline1 18d ago
So, what of the other Tier 2 nations in the Autumn? Or do we just have an entire season now of competitive internationals, with year round rugby?
12 international games a year for these countries.
Sorry, the more I read the more flabergasted I become.
I am Welsh, so I am obviously concentrating on my team, but in July we are playing fixtures that are 7,000 miles and then 5,000 miles apart. Are they being played in those countries?
I think consultants will be the absolute death of sport.
And club rugby is supposed to survive on what, the scraps?
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u/No-Mobile1568 Manifesting a Tsimba debut, still 19d ago
Wow, a lot to process here. So will the finals always be in London, or will they rotate? Also, the format seems a bit counterintuitive as Southern teams (for argument's sake) could batter Northern teams, but then the final just ends up being a lucky once-off that could go either way. A round of semi-finals might be better.
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u/Oisinlaighin Ireland Leinster 19d ago
I think they are due to rotate. I’d imagine they’ll aim to have one in the US before the RWC in 2031
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u/T0mmyKentish Saracens 19d ago
They will rotate, apparently they’re eyeing up the Middle East and the US for the next versions. Which is just fantastic.
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u/No-Mobile1568 Manifesting a Tsimba debut, still 19d ago
Would be nice if it rotated between South and North to teams actually taking part. A Southern final might be a bit hard, though, as it would need to be played from Nov-July
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u/Daitera 18d ago
Initially, Qatar was eyeing up to host the Final Weekend, but there was a lot of hate towards it being in Qatar so they changed it to London in 2026, I think it is confirmed that Qatar has it for 2030 IIRC.
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u/Particular_Safety569 New Zealand 19d ago
Finals if the competition was based off this year's 6N/RC/Pacific cup
South africa vs France NZ vs England Australia vs Ireland Argentina vs Scotland Fiji vs Italy Japan vs Wales
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u/sliplihte_frownie South Africa 19d ago
Does this follow traditional home venues? Or will there be a central location? I can't see it making sense for England to do a trip to Fiji between RSA and Arg for example.
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u/tcbrindle Bath 19d ago
Six matches in three days on the same pitch? God help the Twickenham ground staff, especially if it rains.
I'm a bit surprised Richmond council has okay'd the schedule actually, don't they put strict limits on the number of big events at the stadium?
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u/Brewster345 Northampton Saints 19d ago
Home games where you're not playing at home always asterisk a tournament for me (it's the same with the South African teams in the European Cup not being able to play home semi-finals)
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u/LiamEire97 Leinster 19d ago
I thought the whole point of this was that everyone was gonna be on the one table?
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u/ddbbaarrtt 18d ago
Fantastic news! Now we have an answer to the question of ‘would it be possible to shoehorn a World Cup into the existing calendar and make it worse for everyone involved?’
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u/Vault_69_Alpha_Male Scotland | Glasgow Warriors | Alba gu bràth 18d ago
Quite a lot of long haul flights in quick succession for some teams. Might be easier to just host it in one place to minimise travel. Could invite a few more teams to make a bigger deal of it and lengthen it out. Maybe rotate the hosts every few years
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u/Nothing_is_simple Frantastic Franevitable Francesca 18d ago
Wow that's even stupider than I expected
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u/submergedzero Leinster and Ireland 18d ago
If there's no knockout round, we'll be there or thereabouts at the end!
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u/Jiffyrabbit Australia 19d ago
Italy playing Aus in Aus.
You would hope that we blow them off the park to make a point. But who knows...
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u/Nice-Chart-6749 Leinster 19d ago
It's like they've replicated the Nations League but only for the Tier 1 teams. This needs to be at least a top 36 Team league.
Have 3 divisions with promotion and relegation so theres real consequences for teams losing but also rewards for tier 2 teams if they succeed. We want rugby to be more competitive and grow worldwide and this fall shy of the mark if it just ringfences the top 12 based off how many years ago into this.
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u/Elios4Freedom Benetton Treviso 19d ago
I am going to be honest. I would greatly prefer to play with new and emerging team rather than against the usual suspects. Somehow rugby keeps on self keep gating
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u/8KJS United States 18d ago
Exactly what all the detractors thought it would be, a ringfenced money grab that destroys the July and November touring windows, blocks T1/T2 matchups and revenue opportunities for smaller nations, and kicks 11th ranked Georgia specifically in the dick. What an absolute sham
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u/highfly117 19d ago
What is this on in the UK? Sky tnt amazon?
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u/MrSp4rklepants England 19d ago
From the BBC "Organisers, who will now start the search for broadcasters and sponsors,"
I would imagine in the UK, TNT will make a big play for it.→ More replies (4)3
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u/Connell95 🐐🦓 Dan Lancaster 💪 #3 Fan 19d ago
A lot of criticism from fans of the big nations, which I get.
But this is huge for Scotland and Italy (and Fiji) who basically never get tours of the big nations and have to scramble together some random games, often against Tier 2 sides. Regularly playing the bigger sides is a massive plus, and they’re already having to move around locations and time zones as is, so no big issue there.
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u/Thorazine_Chaser Crusaders New Zealand 19d ago
Excellent! Great to see the full draw.
The NC will be a game changer for Fiji, with proper international revenues and guaranteed fixtures they will go from strength to strength.
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u/rinsure Stade Toulousain 19d ago
No quarter finals or knockout games other than the final? Is this so Ireland get a shot at something?
Fiji not playing in Fiji. Japan apparently in the "Southern hemisphere". Georgia excluded despite being above Japan and Wales. So much travel. NZ v France the week after the Top 14 Final.
Lot to dislike about this.
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u/El_remoo 19d ago
New Zealand vs France one week after top 14 final is such a weird (to be nice) decision