The prospect of a new new international rugby competition that will be played in the existing July and November test windows, moved closer on Saturday with the announcement that it will begin in 2026 and take place every two years alternating with the Men’s Rugby World Cup and British and Irish Lions Tour cycles.
The new elite competition will feature all the Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR teams, with two spaces reserved for invitational unions to join the Southern Hemisphere group. A transparent selection process will be managed by SANZAAR, supported by World Rugby and the International Rugby Players, to determine these two invitational unions.
The tournament will be owned and operated by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR.
To strengthen the development pathway for emerging nations, World Rugby will create a second-tier competition that will feature teams from Europe and the rest of the world, the way for promotion and relegation matches, though not until 2030, but still in the long term contributing towards a valuable pathway for teams outside the traditional strongholds.
“The impact this will have on the game will be to drive its growth and long-term sustainability,” said the statement announcing the details.
“This runs alongside the work being done to add greater clarity and balance to the club and international calendar; a process Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR remain committed to help deliver.”
While all the details have yet to be ironed out it does mean the likely end of the Bank of Ireland Autumn Internationals which delivered two top class and one supporting international match for Dublin every November.
On the flip side if the tournament is to be staged in a World cup style in a single rotating venue, it could provide an opportunity to host the best of World Rugby here on a rotating basis.
Plenty to ponder in the development of the world game bringing the best sides together in a more competitive environment than has been the case to outside observers.
