World Rugby has announced significant changes to the global calendar in a major shift in the international rugby calendar. A new era of opportunity arises after the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, targeted at growth and development.
These changes are aimed at unifying the game and providing more fixtures for the teams, as the international body understands that there needs to be more opportunities for the tier 1 and tier 2 nations.
Thus, fans looking at buying Six Nations Rugby tickets will soon have an opportunity to see the best teams from both hemispheres active, allowing nations such as England, New Zealand, France, and South Africa to face each other more often.
Earlier, bilateral series between the two sides have always occurred every two years, and now, with this format, we will see more closely contested games.
It also opens space for the new Pacific Nations Cup to bring in teams such as Canada, Fiji, Samoa, and Japan alongside Tonga and the USA. This Pacific Nations Cup is a new installation in the rugby calendar, where more games are anticipated.
The key points of the updated World Rugby Council decisions are as follows.
Men’s Game
- An enhanced global calendar will be structured in 2026, with more team fixtures in a calendar year. From the 2027 Rugby World Cup, will be 24 teams participating instead of the standard 16-team format, making more representation on the world stage.
- A new global competition for the men’s game will kick off in 2026, ideally like a Challenger Series, including the top 12 teams. These teams will combine the Six Nations, SANZAAR unions, and two other nominated unions (countries).
- A second-tier tournament will be played alongside the Challenger Series. This will also feature 12 teams; a promotion-relegation format will ensure an opportunity for the bottom-tier teams to make it to the top.
- The newly agreed Pacific Nations Cup will take place in 2024. The tournament will include the likes of Canada, Fiji, the USA, Tonga, Japan and Samoa.
Women’s Game
- The women’s game will now have a dedicated calendar, allowing more fixtures between the sides.
- A dedicated international window will enable the club teams across the different leagues to opt in for international duty as World Rugby looks at increasing women’s fixtures.
As the women’s game is finally professional in almost all top-tier nations and plans are underway for a professional women’s squad in tier 1 and tier 2 nations, there will be more games for women’s teams in this new era.
At present, fans can buy Six Nations Rugby tickets for the women’s tournament, and there is no multi-team women’s rugby tournament.
Through this initiative, World Rugby hopes there will be more opportunities for more teams to meet at regular intervals.
Six Nations Approve of Changes
After evaluating the suggested changes and the improvements, the governing body for Six Nations Rugby has welcomed the move, stating that this will help the game grow further.
In a statement, Tom Harrison, the CEO of Six Nations, added that ‘he is excited” about the reforms that World Rugby has brought in.
His comments read that these new additions create a more balanced calendar with competitive fixtures.
Harrison also highlighted that these changes were based on the players and the fans and emphasized that player well-being remains a priority in every decision they make.
It will be a blessing for the regular fans who’ve been loyal to the Six Nations competition with Six Nations rugby tickets.
They now have the opportunity to witness some of the best games with better options.
In all of these changes, one of the critical aspects is that the players are part and parcel of the initiative, and their inputs were taken into account when making decisions.
Harrison points out that the players’ role in shaping the game’s future is exemplary and wants more such initiatives.
Sexton Can Return to the Six Nations
Ireland’s legendary flyhalf, Johnny Sexton, might not be ending his involvement with the oval ball just yet.
While he played his last game in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals against the All Blacks, experts believe he has more to offer with a possible coaching role for him in the Ireland side.
Sexton hoped to conclude his illustrious career with a Rugby World Cup win, but the Irish had to face an unfortunate loss to New Zealand in the quarterfinals. At the time, the #1 ranked team was the clear favorite after impressing the world with their Six Nations performance, appealing to all fans earlier this year with Six Nations rugby tickets, but it was not meant to be.
Despite missing the end of Leinster’s season due to injury and experiencing another quarterfinal exit, it’s unlikely that the 38-year-old will return as a player.
Instead, Sexton has been linked with a coaching role, mainly as there are strong rumors that Mike Catt, Ireland’s attack coach, may step down after the World Cup.
The Sunday Times reports that Catt will leave with his relocation to England but might continue for the Six Nations in 2024.
If Catt’s departure is confirmed, a vacancy in Andy Farrell’s coaching team will open up, and the Irish Rugby Football Union is eager to harness Sexton’s extensive knowledge of the game.
Sexton has balanced his career with a job at the Ardagh Group, where he works as the company’s commercial manager one day a week.
While his original plan was to work in business following retirement, coaching offers might entice him to consider a role on the sidelines.
With his years of experience and gameplay expertise, the Irish team or any other team would love to have his services in the next Rugby World Cup cycle since it will be four years of change and development for the game.
In a previous interview, Sexton acknowledged that he could see himself as a coach in the future, stating, “Never say never; you never know what life is going to throw at you.”
But he also admitted it might not be a plan right away, but it could be something he will look forward to doing in the future.
