FUTURE OF RUGBY

RUGBY UG IS reaching something of a tipping tipp point, the need to balance finances fina with player welfare. Many positive pos noises have been made about the the state of the game and there’s no doubt dou that the World Cup in Japan was a a huge hu success, attracting more people to to the th sport in a non-traditional market with with brilliant spectacles as well as generating gen funds off the field.

Ho However, it is not all good news.

There The are huge questions around the sustainability sust of the sport at the top level leve , with very few clubs making money and and many unions in financial strife too.

Th Throughout this issue, Rugby World looks look at various hot topics on the future of of the th game. Here we have focused on five five areas – Test rugby, competitions, women wom , broadcasting and players – to assess asse what changes and issues are expected exp over the coming years.

Let Le us know your views on the big talking talk points in rugby and what you think thin of its future by getting in touch via our our social media channels or emailing rugbyworldletters @ti-media.com

TEST RUGBY

THIS YEAR marks the start of the ‘integrated’ season agreed in San Francisco back in 2017. At points last year it appeared it might be replaced by World Rugby’s Nations Championship proposal but as that did not get approved by the member unions, it’s a return to the original plan that is scheduled to run until 2032.

What are the key changes? The Six Nations, Rugby Championship and November Test windows remain, but rather than June tours they will take place in July, with European domestic competitions finishing in June and Super Rugby running uninterrupted.

There will also be more three-Test summer tours, but those after a World Cup will usually be limited to two. New Zealand and Scotland are playing three Tests this summer, showing that player welfare is still not top of the priority list.

The integrated season also features more Tier One v Tier Two Tests, with a minimum of 110 matches to be played between 2020 and 2032. England and France are expected to tour the Pacific Islands during that time while the likes of Georgia will host matches against Six Nations unions during the July window. Yet more fixtures doesn’t solve the financial problems of many unions.

“What would clearly help the world game is a more equal share of revenue”

The RFU reported