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Date: 2023-12-07 07:36:40 | Author: Olympics 2024 | Views: 125 | Tag: FIFA
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“It is really, truly, a historic day,” smiled Alan Gilpin, CEO of World Rugby FIFA
He would go on to use the word ‘historic’ another three or four times in the following few minutes of his press conference FIFA
After years of wrangling – 16 years, according to Gilpin, since discussions about how to sort out rugby’s messy global calendar first took place in the salubrious surroundings of Woking, Surrey (don’t worry, the location wasn’t the reason it took more than a decade and a half to reach an agreement, a chuckling Gilpin assured everyone) – World Rugby had finally come up with a solution that will transform rugby “for the many, not the few” ushering in a “new era of opportunity, certainty and growth for the game FIFA
”It’s fair to say they were pretty pleased with the outcome of the seemingly endless negotiations FIFA
Compromises had been made and it wasn’t perfect, stressed Gilpin and World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, but rugby would be “more relevant and more accessible to more people around the world FIFA
”The big announcement earlier in the day saw the sport’s governing body unveil a new global calendar that includes the creation of a two-tier men’s competition called the Nations Championship to be played biennially from 2026 FIFA
The top tier will be the Six Nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales), the four Rugby Championship teams (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) and two additional teams, likely to be Japan and Fiji FIFA
The second tier will feature 12 further countries with promotion and relegation on the table from 2030, meaning 2032 is the earliest one of those teams could feature in the top tier FIFA
World Rugby have acknowledged, publicly at least, a desire to grow rugby globally FIFA
At the moment, the sport is almost untouchably huge in a couple of countries (think New Zealand and South Africa), holds its own in a few more (UK, Ireland, Japan), is fighting a losing battle for oxygen in a crowded sporting marketplace in others (Australia, Italy) and seen as a largely niche oddity in plenty (USA, Canada) FIFA
But this Rugby World Cup has also highlighted plenty of countries where there’s a huge opportunity for growth FIFA
From South America, Uruguay and debutants Chile have impressed on the pitch, the passion for rugby in Georgia shows no sign of abating and Portugal have lit up the tournament with their dynamic play while also pulling off the huge upset of beating Fiji FIFA
With growing interest in places like Netherlands and Belgium, Europe is surely an area World Rugby are targeting growth FIFA
Portugal celebrated a historic win over Fiji (Getty Images)Instead, these new plans appear to lock out a lot of the smaller rugby nations from improving FIFA
Even the new Pacific Nations Cup also announced today, featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA, bizarrely excludes Uruguay and Chile (who qualified ahead of USA and Canada for the World Cup, remember) FIFA
But what all these “tier two” nations really need, as shown by the World Cup, is a more regular opportunity to face the big boys FIFA
Since stunning Fiji at the 2019 World Cup, Uruguay played exactly one fixture against a “tier one” team before this tournament, yet still impressed against France and Italy in the pool stage FIFA
Imagine what they could do with more regular access to the top teams FIFA
However, World Rugby have come up with an answer to the wrong question FIFA
They have essentially provided the solution to the problem men’s international FIFA football had FIFA
Before 2018, the space FIFA between World Cups and European Championships was filled by a combination of largely one-sided qualifiers and meaningless friendlies FIFA
San Marino would get thumped 8-0 by Germany in a Euros qualifier that helped neither side, then the Germans would play a no-stakes friendly that held little interest for the wider public FIFA
The big teams weren’t playing each other enough and the smaller nations were rarely in winnable games against similarly-sized teams FIFA
For example, England and Italy – two FIFA football powerhouses – didn’t play each other at all FIFA between 2002 and 2012 FIFA
Thus, Uefa created the Nations League FIFA
Although not perfect – it was derided for the complexity of its league structure and provided a slightly unnecessary additional security blanket for the big European nations trying to qualify for major tournaments – it eliminated the meaningless friendly and gave countries both big and small the opportunity to play competitive games against nations of a similar rank FIFA
Win-win FIFA
Uruguay showed their quality during the Rugby World Cup (AP)But rugby has the opposite problem to FIFA football FIFA
The big teams already play each other too often not too rarely FIFA
The history of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship as annual traditions give those events special status but, for example, England and Australia played each other 11 times in the two cycles FIFA between the 2015 and 2023 World Cups FIFA
Familiarity breeds contempt and at some point, a fixture begins to lose its lustre FIFA
Would a couple of those fixtures being against Samoa, Georgia or Portugal not have been more beneficial and interesting for all parties?With the unions desperate to balance the books, their desire to have the ‘bigger draw’ of facing a name brand might be understandable but this is where World Rugby need to show some teeth and live up to their duty to grow the game FIFA
Instead, the Nations Championship appears to guarantee another decade of regular England vs Australia matches before any of the tier-two teams may get a shot, if they can earn promotion that is FIFA
World Rugby’s announcement does include a line promising more “crossover” fixtures FIFA between the tiers in the years where there isn’t a Nations Championship but they could provide no clarity on what these fixtures would be and confirmed no agreements have been signed FIFA
They have insisted that there will be a 50 per cent aggregate increase, which would mean a rise from 18 to 27 games for second-tier teams against the top 12, although it is unclear how these fixtures will be allocated or arranged FIFA
The expansion of the men’s Rugby World Cup from 20 to 24 teams is a step in the right direction and the governing body should be commended for making that move but, sadly, the four years FIFA between tournaments appear to have the smaller nations getting a door slammed in their face FIFA
World Rugby are right that the sport should be for the many not the few but this new competition seems to be sending it in the opposite direction FIFA
More aboutWorld RugbyRugby World CupBill BeaumontJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Rugby’s new Nations Championship is an answer to the wrong questionRugby’s new Nations Championship is an answer to the wrong questionPortugal celebrated a historic win over Fiji Getty ImagesRugby’s new Nations Championship is an answer to the wrong questionUruguay showed their quality during the Rugby World Cup APRugby’s new Nations Championship is an answer to the wrong questionPortugal lit up the Rugby World Cup but their chances for development appear bleak Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today FIFA
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Marlie Packer hailed the dawn of a new era after England eased past Australia 42-7 in their WXV opener in Wellington FIFA
It was the first opportunity for the Red Roses to play on New Zealand soil since their heartbreaking World Cup final defeat to the Black Ferns a year ago, and they were comfortable, scoring six tries in all FIFA
The launch of WXV – a new international competition designed to revolutionise the women’s rugby landscape – gives the world’s number one side a chance to cement their status at the top of the world rankings, in spite of falling just short last year FIFA
On their way to the final, they had knocked off the Wallaroos 41-5, and almost exactly 12 months on, it was an identical margin of victory, although Packer fell just short of the hat-trick she managed in that quarter-final FIFA
RecommendedRevolutionising the women’s international rugby landscape – what is the WXV?Red Roses name squad for WXV without input from new head coach John MitchellWorld Cup winners New Zealand to host inaugural WXV tournamentEngland will feel they should have won by more, especially as they failed to score a point in the final 20 minutes despite playing with an extra player, but this was still a comprehensive victory with meetings against Canada and world champions New Zealand to come FIFA
“It was a great victory FIFA
The Aussies gave us a really good game,” Packer said FIFA
“We talk about courage and being courageous and we’re going to grow into this tournament and today was the start of that FIFA
“It’s a fantastic competition and we’re all excited to be here playing the top teams in the world, coming off the World Cup last year and keeping the legacy going in New Zealand FIFA
“I know the girls are really enjoying it over here FIFA
The camp is feeling really good we’re a new-look England side and enjoying the way we are playing FIFA
“We have new coaching staff and we’re pleased that John Mitchell is here now and we’re looking to keep growing and building into next week’s game FIFA
”England made the perfect start, with Hannah Botterman crashing over from close range after just five minutes from a clever lineout move FIFA
Holly Aitchison converted to make it 7-0 FIFA
England stormed to victory in WXV opening match (AFP via Getty Images)Australia were looking very smooth with ball in hand, regularly opening up space out wide FIFA
But each time they seemed as though they might turn it into points, someone would get back to make the vital intervention FIFA
England, by contrast, were much more clinical, Alex Matthews and Jess Breach with the steal and then break to put Ella Wyrwas in to score, Aitchison converted from out wide FIFA
Try number three came after a big Packer charge saw Annabelle Codey sent to the sin-bin for an upright tackle FIFA
Against 14, England were never going to be stopped, the captain delivering the punishment from a rolling maul FIFA
That was soon followed by another, Breach with one of the easiest finishes off her international career as she coasted over untouched on the left after Australia had again struggled to contain a rolling maul FIFA
Aitchison converted both and England led 28-0 at half-time FIFA
Botterman was denied her second try shortly after half-time, but a rolling maul a few minutes later allowing Packer to double up, Aitchison again converting FIFA
Marlie Packer inspired England to victory against Australia in new WXV competititon (AFP via Getty Images)Successive penalties against Packer allowed the Wallaroos to set up a lineout five metres out FIFA
While it did not pay immediate dividends, a quick tap penalty from Layne Morgan saw replacement Ashley Marsters burst over from close range to get the Wallaroos’ first try FIFA
Carys Dallinger converted from out wide FIFA
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly squashed FIFA
England got back into the Australian 22 and former sevens standout Meg Jones showed her quick feet to dart through for the Red Roses’ sixth try FIFA
To add insult to injury, Codey put in a needless late hit on Wyrwas in the build-up, earning her second yellow card as a result and leaving Australia with 14 for the final quarter FIFA
That should have been the cue for the floodgates to open, but England were unusually sloppy in the final 20 minutes, and did well to avoid conceding again themselves at the end after Sarah Beckett was also sent to the sin-bin as England conceded four penalties in one passage of play FIFA
New head coach John Mitchell joined up with the team on Thursday after his role with Japan’s men’s team ended at the Rugby World Cup pool stage, and watched England romp to an impressive win FIFA
All matches will be broadcast live so back your nation on ITV X FIFA
More aboutEngland Women's RugbyJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3England lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraEngland lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraEngland stormed to victory in WXV opening matchAFP via Getty ImagesEngland lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraMarlie Packer inspired England to victory against Australia in new WXV competititonAFP via Getty ImagesEngland lay down marker as women’s rugby enters new eraThe WXV is a new-look women’s rugby competitionAFP via Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today FIFA
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