It will replace the traditional test-matches and tours between these countries and “will take place every two years”, apart from the years of the World Cup, specify the two organizations in a joint press release. This new competition bringing together the “elite” of world rugby will bring together all the teams of the Six Nations Tournament (France, England, Scotland, Italy, Wales and Ireland) and Sanzaar (Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa). South), “with two places reserved for federations by invitation to join the group from the southern hemisphere”.
A “transparent” selection process will be managed by the Sanzaar, with the support of World Rugby and the International Rugby Players, to determine these two guest nations, the statement explains. Two groups of six teams will then be formed, and will play “go” matches in July and “return” matches in November.
The international union of rugby players “has been involved at every stage of the development of this new competition” – while criticism around too heavy schedules has been more and more present in recent years – assure the two entities, for whom “guarantee (…) the well-being of the players remains a fundamental priority in all decision-making”. To strengthen the development of emerging nations, “World Rugby will create a second level competition which will welcome teams from Europe and the rest of the world”, add the two entities. Eventually, the establishment of these two competitions will pave the way for “promotion and relegation matches” between the two divisions.
