By Paul Jones
Nigel Walker has insisted the planned global rugby calendar and new tournaments are the result of consultation between players and officials.
World Rugby has approved plans to set up a new international league competition for Wales players and those of other nations as part of a radical shake-up of the global calendar.
The bi-annual tournament is to be launched in 2026 and will be made up of two divisions of 12 teams, with promotion and relegation commencing from 2030. Matches will be staged in the July and November international windows.
Reform World Rugby until they truly understand the first word of their name. Currently it’s about as meaningful as World Series. https://t.co/4kPVipyJgo
— Mike Pullen (@MikePullen1969) October 24, 2023
The competition will culminate in a final between teams from the northern and southern hemispheres.
World Rugby state that the new competition structure, which enshrines British and Irish Lions tours in their existing format, will also provide an increased number of fixtures between the game’s heavyweights and emerging nations.
“A new era is about to begin for our sport. An era that will bring certainty and opportunity for all,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
“An era that will support the many, not the few, and an era that will supercharge the development of the sport beyond its traditional and often self-imposed boundaries. All boats will rise together.”
World Rugby’s 51-member council voted on the changes on Tuesday but only just reached the required 75 per cent majority.
“Certain countries will have their own views on matters,” Beaumont said.
“I would like to think that around the room there might have been a few dissenters but on the whole there was a pretty significant vote in favour of these new competitions.”
The World Rugby Council has approved transformational reform of the global men’s and women’s rugby calendars
Including the first-ever dedicated women’s and men’s calendars from 2026 and expansion of Rugby World Cup to 24 teams in 2027
To find out more: https://t.co/iQln1BcIid
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 24, 2023
