As the ongoing, and very public debate around the proposed World Rugby Nations Championship, continues, World Rugby has unveiled updates following senior meetings in Dublin this week.
What are the new updates to the World Rugby Nations Championship?
The championship still revolves around pitting the Six Nations Rugby Championship (northern hemisphere) and the Rugby Championship (southern hemisphere) teams in a league.
The Rugby Championship will include:
- South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina with the next two top World Rugby ranking sides, currently Japan and Fiji.
The Six Nations will continue with:
- England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Italy.
What else has been proposed?
- The total number of games a team could play has been reduced to a maximum of 11 Nations Championship matches, 12 if they reach the final. This was changed mainly due to player feedback concerning player welfare which was communicated via the International Rugby Council.
- Semi-final games have been scrapped in favour of only a final from the top-ranked team in each pool.
- Relegation and promotion will take place in both championships.
- Rugby World Cup years won’t see a World Rugby Nations Championship take place, however, seedings and qualification for the World Cup will be based on standings from the Rugby Nations Championship.
- Lions tour years remain with some protection and a reduced schedule will take place with no promotion-relegation in a Lions year.
Impact on Asian Rugby?
The impact on teams from Asia generally remains the same as we previously commented on.
What about Women’s Rugby?
World Rugby, without providing too many specifics, has said that a “commitment to invest in a Women’s Nations Championship to accelerate the global competitiveness of the game” will also take place.
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