CHRIS FOY: My needs for rugby 2023 are World Cup upsets, TRUE growth within the Six Nations and domestically, the return of Eddie the entertainer… and fewer matches for decrease pay
- The upcoming World Cup guarantees to offer a bunch of its regular upsets
- Six Nations promotion and relegation might assist increase the game globally
- The return of Eddie Jones will little doubt add an aura of pleasure to rugby
It guarantees to be a large yr, main as much as a wide-open battle for international supremacy in France within the autumn.
Whereas a lot consideration shall be on who claims the Webb Ellis Cup, there isn’t any scarcity of tales from throughout the game that deserve our consideration, from the growth of the sport globally to the return of Eddie Jones.
Rugby has loads of scope for enchancment and right here is my wish-list for 2023…
The return of the World Cup guarantees to offer an thrilling 2023 for rugby followers
WORLD CUP UPSETS
The showpiece will come alive with a sequence of surprising outcomes. Hosts Japan illuminated the 2019 version by beating Eire and Scotland on their cost to the quarter-finals and the Courageous Blossoms might threaten the established order once more, however who else?
Georgia and Fiji are able to difficult Australia and Wales to qualify for the final eight.
A northern winner of the final word prize would buck the historic development of southern dominance, with the French favourites plus No 1-ranked Eire and even England able to going all the way in which. As ever, this column hopes the Pacific island groups can harness restricted assets to assert prime scalps — and in addition that Italy’s revival accelerates.
TIME FOR TRUE EXPANSION
The burgeoning rugby scenes in nations corresponding to Portugal have to be supported to allow worldwide progress
If the delayed international calendar imaginative and prescient lastly comes collectively, let it make significant room for rising nations corresponding to Georgia, Portugal and Chile — not simply others with market enchantment.
Six Nations promotion and relegation would open up the game and faucet into European potential. Let the Premiership overhaul embrace larger co-operation with and funding for the Championship — with Worcester and Wasps rescued and on the vanguard of a second-tier improve.
Ideally, there shall be a Welsh revival, at Check and regional stage, one other first-time Champions Cup winner and renewed dedication to take that occasion to new territories. And possibly this yr the World Rugby males’s participant award can go to a prop, relatively than to a back-rower or half-back as regular.
LEARN TO SELL THE GAME
Rugby has to promote itself much better than it has carried out within the period of pseudo professionalism. There have to be a temper to innovate, with behind-the-scenes documentaries, terrestrial TV protection and extra billboard promoting. Put shot clocks on the massive screens and match stats which enhance an understanding of the usually advanced spectacle.
Carry rival coaches and gamers collectively to whet the urge for food for marquee matches. Ramp up the pre-match leisure. Golf equipment and nationwide groups ought to prepare in metropolis centres in entrance of the general public. Extra co-operative social media campaigns and use of in-game footage is an space for progress, however rugby additionally has to decrease ticket costs, part out anti-social kick-off occasions and have clear calendar blocks for every competitors.
RETURN OF EDDIE JONES
No matter your opinion of him, Eddie Jones is an enigma and brings one thing distinctive to the game
Love him or hate him, everybody would certainly agree that the previous England head coach possesses a showman’s knack for drawing consideration to the game. The Australian’s exile is unlikely to final lengthy. One of the best-case script have to be that he takes on a task with the Wallabies and finds himself up in opposition to England in a World Cup quarter-final.
If not, one other nation is sure to make a transfer and it could add intrigue and spice if Jones confirmed up in France with Japan or Georgia, Samoa or Argentina — or any workforce in any respect. Simply get him in and benefit from the wise-cracking chaos.
SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE: GET ON WITH IT… OR ELSE!
World Rugby’s new directives goal to make the sport extra entertaining to viewers
World Rugby’s new directives have one major goal — to chop down time-wasting. All who care about enhancing the spectacle should pray for a optimistic end result.
If the curse of scrum re-sets can’t be solved, it would find yourself having to turn into a re-start software as it’s in league.
Crooked feeds and caterpillar rucks are menaces too. They need to have a countdown clock for lineouts and referees have to be backed to implement the brand new legal guidelines with a zero-tolerance zeal. If scrum-halves are instructed to play the ball at a ruck, it should occur without delay, not after 5 seconds of pod-planning.
Infinite mauls and kick-chase marathons don’t set the hearts racing both, however these points should wait. The message needs to be: ‘Get on with it, or else.’
LESS IS MORE
There have to be a world drive to scale back workloads and wages. Decrease pay for fewer matches is the one logical reply to the threats posed by the spectre of concussion and dementia amongst former gamers on one hand, and monetary turmoil on the opposite.
Fixtures have to be reduce and higher organised. A strict restrict of three Exams per autumn window could be a begin and any new occasion corresponding to a world membership cup can solely occur if different
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