According to those on the ground in France, the answer is “yes”. World Rugby, the non-governing governing body, considers it to be a good idea – which, you may think, automatically makes it a bad one – and we can therefore expect the new format to be unveiled when Australia (remember them?) stage the global gathering in 2027.
A hardened cynic might be tempted to suspect that this “growth strategy” is all about the United States, the wealthiest nation in the Americas by an immeasurable distance but only fourth best when it comes to rugby.
The Eagles failed to find their way into the current tournament, which was a bit of a bugger for the governing classes who, with dollar signs in their eyes, had just awarded them the 2031 hosting rights. The thought of the Yanks messing up a second time may or may not have exercised a few minds in the boardroom.
Needless to say, the NGGB will flag up Portugal’s captivating victory over the Fijians as evidence of the Tier Two brigade closing in on the traditional elite. But Fiji, for all their talents, are still a Tier Two nation themselves – in commercial terms, they hover around Tier Eight – and if we look at the 40-match pool stage just ended, the dial has moved barely a millimetre in the right direction.
Esta historia es de la edición October 15, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
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Esta historia es de la edición October 15, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
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Edwards gives Gatland a little to think about
A TERRIFIC effort from Ospreys should have seen victory and it was rough justice that high-flying Cardiff escaped with an undeserved draw.
Cowan-Dickie: I'm back and buzzing
LUKE Cowan-Dickie's journey back to the pinnacle of rugby is nothing short of extraordinary.
Clow keeps Rams in touch at the top
RAMS inward approach is paying dividends with the club involved in another title race thanks in part to free scoring flyer Zachary Clow.
Powell powers over to take Quins home
PLAYMAKER Kayleigh Powell powered past four defenders to score the eighth Harlequins try and narrowly edge out a spirited Trailfinders side to secure a late comeback win in a 15-try derby thriller.
Hathaway can follow Zam Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has backed Josh Hathaway to continue to go from strength to strength as the young winger attempts to follow in the slipstream of Louis Rees-Zammit and be a big hit for club and country.
Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots
THE description 'Hybrid Central Contracts' does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of this, and a bit of that — and 'Hybrid Hash' would be a more apt term for the RFU contracts given to 17 England players just before the autumn series slump.
Quins leave it late to power past Falcons
MARCUS Smith showed his class on Friday night, being an imperious creator and finisher as Harlequins romped to an emphatic five-try victory on Tyneside.
We need to see a complete shake-up
A NEW year and change is on the way across many aspects of the game, not least with the possibility of an SGM creating a complete change at the RFU.
Cool McBryde steals it for RGC
BILLY McBryde held his nerve to land a last kick of the match conversion to snatch a stunning 4139 win for RGC over leaders Ebbw Vale at Parc Eirias.
Century of highs for La Rochelle
AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th sell-out match in a row – either side of the period of pandemic restrictions – a run stretching back to January 2, 2016.
