A global club and Test rugby package can secure rugby’s future after coronavirus carnage
As rugby nations around the world face insolvency amid the current pandemic, the game, against all odds, has an opportunity to secure its future for good, writes JAMIE PANDARAM.
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The calamity of COVID-19 will produce the greatest opportunity for rugby to secure its future for good; by running a global domestic competition followed by an aligned Test calendar.
Rugby nations around the world face insolvency amid the pandemic, and Rugby Australia is particularly vulnerable, with some staff expected to lose their jobs on Monday and Wallaby players to take hefty pay-cuts on Tuesday.
Now is the time for the game to put selfish allegiances to the side and operate as one, for the greater good.
While all unions run to World Rugby for lifesaving funds, there is a greater picture to consider than just survival for now.
When we emerge from the depths of this crisis, the world will not look the same, sport will not be the same and rugby can rise from the ashes to thrive.
In 2021, streamline the game and have the world’s rugby audience connected to the full package, just as they are during World Cups.
Every nation could hold their own domestic tournament.
Get the Pacific Islands, Japan and United States involved in a separate conference.
The top two clubs from the major nations and the winner of the Pacific conference can form a Super Rugby style playoff series, as can the best teams from England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
Crown a winner from the north and one from the south, then hold a Super Bowl style grand final the world will tune in to.
Immediately following that, cut to the global Test season.
Every nation plays each other, and there’s an annual champion between World Cups.
Take this package to broadcasters and even in dire economic times they’ll be fighting each other for the rights.
Rugby’s appeal is that it is a world sport. That is why people will tune in to watch the Wallabies regardless of whether they’ve paid attention to Super Rugby, which has been dwindling for years.
The proposed Nations Championship, which would have resulted in a global Test calendar each year, was rejected by the northern hemisphere unions who were frightened of a relegation system and instead took money from a private equity firm who now have a greater stake in the Six Nations.
That deal may have been better for the north, but it wilfully hurt the south.
With all the money that was on offer from European clubs, it was seen as inevitable that the best southern hemisphere players would end up there and return for national duty as required, just as happens with football.
But now Australia, New Zealand and word champions South Africa are on the brink of collapse, as are all of the once cashed-up European clubs.
So why not work together to rebuild?
RA will hold its annual general meeting on Monday, and will outline the shocking scenario of losing up to $80 million this year from cancelled and lost games.
They’ll have a video conference with all states and clubs and hand down the sombre news that some will lose their jobs and others will be required to take wage cuts. RUPA will be on the same call.
On Tuesday, RA and RUPA will look to finalise a deal for players to take pay cuts for at least two months. It could be upwards of half their annual salaries, depending on how much, if anything, World Rugby can offer Australia who have sought interim assistance of millions.
Every which way it’s viewed, these are ugly times.
Perhaps in this shared despair, the games powerbrokers may realise that rugby is better served with one clear vision and product.
Originally published as A global club and Test rugby package can secure rugby’s future after coronavirus carnage