World 12s
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From the article below:
However World 12s Limited have only held “informal, low key” discussions with World Rugby so far, and have yet to get approval for the tournament.
The eight franchise teams – made up of 24-man squads – will be confirmed following an auction later this year, with those teams then taking part in a separate auction for players. Each franchise will be required to select at least two players from Tier Two nations as well as one international U20s player.
This morning’s announcement made clear that players could be handsomely paid for taking part in the tournament. There will be salary caps on squads, but all players within a squad will not be required to receive equal pay.
Former RFU CEO Ian Ritchie is on board as World 12s chairman, with World Cup winning coaches Steve Hansen and Jake White on board as ambassadors, as well as former England international Ugo Monye and former South Africa flanker Schalk Burger. Other board and executive members include former NZRU CEO Steve Tew (non-executive director), and former chairman of the WRU Gareth Davies (non-executive director).
“Early and informal discussions with World Rugby, unions, clubs and player associations have been constructive, and in announcing today we can continue our consultative conversations and collaborations with the relevant stakeholders.”
When asked about the challenges of introducing a new tournament into an already packed rugby calendar, Richie acknowledged the difficulties the World 12s format is likely to face.
“We want to be collaborative. We want to discuss this with all the stakeholders, whether it be the northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere, and we want to try reach an agreement with everybody about what is the best time in the calendar and how do we get to player release – we all know player release is different, sometimes it’s clubs, sometimes it’s unions.
“We just can’t not let something happen because of its degree of difficulty. We think that getting eight franchises and 192 of the world’s best players and eight of the world’s best coaches into a format is going to be truly exciting.
He's dreaming. If it's to be played in late August/early September, they won't be able to sign any All Blacks, Springboks, Pumas or Wallabies. And what about the European clubs? Will they release their best players?
New global 12-a-side rugby tournament promises 'unprecedented prize money'
World 12s Limited have yet to get approval for the ambitious new tournament from World Rugby.
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Steve & Steve on board. I’d say this is an attempt to circumvent the stick in the mud Celts and Italians who vetoed the World Series.
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@stargazer said in World 12s:
You won't believe it, but they have again made up a new format in addition to XVs, 7s, 10s and [Rugby X]
I reckon 10s is criminally under-rated. It's got enough good stuff from rugby (specialisation = tight forwards), and more space. I'd watch the hell out of it.
Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't go to 13 players, and then put in a rule about turning over possession after 6 breakdowns. Seems so much simpler ... you could push the defending line back to create more space, too.
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I'd say they have analysed and worked out that 12 would create a game not so far from XVs that it would create specialist players but would have enough gaps on the field to create action. Not a bad idea.
Gives XVs players a chance to earn $ and creates a more free flowing game for the world market.
10s is too close to 7s. -
@stargazer said in World 12s:
You won't believe it, but they have again made up a new format in addition to XVs, 7s, 10s and [Rugby X]
I reckon 10s is criminally under-rated. It's got enough good stuff from rugby (specialisation = tight forwards), and more space. I'd watch the hell out of it.
Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't go to 13 players, and then put in a rule about turning over possession after 6 breakdowns. Seems so much simpler ... you could push the defending line back to create more space, too.
10s is the bomb.
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@dice holy fuck that second Brisbane 10s tournament was shooooocking. The refereeing was fucking awful. I remember the Highlanders losing to the Chiefs due to a massive refereeing blunder then the Chiefs losing to the Blues due to a massive refereeing blunder. Probably a reason why it was only on twice.
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havent we got enough issues to sort with the existing XV's competitions without looking at something else, also doesn't make it easy for new fans trying to get into it if there are not only different competitions but different formats too
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@kiwiwomble said in World 12s:
havent we got enough issues to sort with the existing XV's competitions without looking at something else, also doesn't make it easy for new fans trying to get into it if there are not only different competitions but different formats too
Agreed,Do we really need this comp at the moment,especially the proposed timing of it,I can not see how it will work for the Southern Hemisphere players.Are they just going to leave the RC to play in it or the NPC etc.
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So what does NZ's national team get called in this PC world? White and Black are out. Maybe the 'Dark coloured 12', or what about the 'Dirty Dozen'?
They should just go to 13 players, knock out a couple of forwards, and get players training on skill-sets, elusiveness and endurance, and not just on size and collision impact capability.
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@billy-tell said in World 12s:
Steve & Steve on board. I’d say this is an attempt to circumvent the stick in the mud Celts and Italians who vetoed the World Series.
I reckon this is an attempt to feather their own nest. There's literally no requirement for this abomination and would serve only to decrease interest in real rugby. This should be beaten and discarded like a red headed step child.
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@stargazer said in World 12s:
You won't believe it, but they have again made up a new format in addition to XVs, 7s, 10s and [Rugby X]
I reckon 10s is criminally under-rated. It's got enough good stuff from rugby (specialisation = tight forwards), and more space. I'd watch the hell out of it.
Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't go to 13 players, and then put in a rule about turning over possession after 6 breakdowns. Seems so much simpler ... you could push the defending line back to create more space, too.
A game like that would definitely attract a much smarter type of player, and in turn a much smarter person. I’m all for it. Rugby is a bit low brow for me sometimes.
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people around world rugby seem to think the way to have as much viewership as possible is to have as many games as possible...rather than trying to attractmore people to existing games
FIFA wold be quite happy if they had seven billion people watching the same game because they know the more people share an experience the more importance it has in people lives and the more money they can make
WR seem to want to give everyone their own specific game to watch....and then not talk about it with anyone else because they all have their own games
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@kiwiwomble This doesn't come from World Rugby. They even haven't approved it yet.
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why does every single "exciting new" variation involve the shortening and dumbing down of a sport?
Are my favourite sports really that insecure?
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@mariner4life I saw someone suggest a Rugby 20s variation to make it more attractive to fatties and giraffes with - at least - an extra prop and lock!
Not sure how that would work in a scrum! -
@mariner4life said in World 12s:
why does every single "exciting new" variation involve the shortening and dumbing down of a sport?
Are my favourite sports really that insecure?
A Sport NZ lead initiative several years ago required all sports to look at adaptations that would cater better for larger groups of potential (young) participants. They were also concerned in the drop-off in numbers of girls participating, and from all kids once they reached mid-teens.
At AIMS Games that soon meant many smaller schools could send competitors for rugby 7s, 6 a-side hockey etc when they did not have enough numbers to assemble a team for 15s, 11s etc. A number of sports, including rippa rugby, cricket and table tennis, have introduced 'mixed gender' teams, for inter-schools events - so that keen girls do not miss out because a full girls team can not be made up.
Similar initiatives have happened overseas. Rather than dumbing down or insecurity - it is a byproduct of sports being forced to think about modification to allow them to SURVIVE as a recreational choice for the general public - as distinct from becoming a commercially supported (gladiatorial) spectacle for the most finely tuned athletes (e.g. Gridiron).
The mind boggles at future adaptive possibilities like underwater marathon running, ice-rink BMX and javelin doubles (catch and retrieve)
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@mariner4life said in World 12s:
why does every single "exciting new" variation involve the shortening and dumbing down of a sport?
Are my favourite sports really that insecure?
I can see an argument for trying to have fewer players on the field at the professional level, but this is really stupid.
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@stargazer said in World 12s:
@kiwiwomble This doesn't come from World Rugby. They even haven't approved it yet.
yeah, poor choice of words, i mean more any of those working on the broader scope of "the game"
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Superb piece from Stuart Barnes .
