THE leading rugby nations have a variety of domestic structures, in each case with the national team at the top. Every country – apart from England – has a single pyramid.
South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland and Australia have straightforward and logical pathways; club to province to country.
France has no stage between club and country, but would never contemplate allowing clubs in its Top 14 to create a ring fence. If that happened, there would be a second French Revolution! Every French club is part of one huge pyramid.
Even though England and France have the two lar...