No Image Caption

Why World Rugby?

Column
Tielman Van Lill
Equilibrium in the universe was and always will be unbalanced. We see it daily at every level of society.

The quadrennial Rugby World Cup is currently raging in France, with four groups and five teams per group. Where it should be a showcase for rugby, it is instead a source of annoyance and dismay for many passionate rugby supporters.

This is an annoyance for emerging countries like Namibia, Chile, Uruguay, Romania, Georgia, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Portugal and even Italy. Yes, Italy included. The Azzurri has been playing in the Six Nations series against England, Ireland, France, Scotland and Wales since 2000, but at this World Cup they were demolished 96-17 by the All Blacks and beaten 60-7 by France.

Namibia, Chile, Uruguay, Romania, Georgia, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Portugal and Italy’s presence at the World Cup in the current format deserves a rethink. It does these tier two countries more harm than good.

World Rugby’s interest in developing and improving these rugby nations has come under scrutiny. How can anyone with a common sense let a country like Namibia play four killer Tests in just 18 days? It’s like a hit and run accident, in front of the world’s broadcasters.

There is a huge flaw in World Rugby’s system and the decision-makers now have a lot to contemplate. The current format is unhealthy and out of touch with the harsh reality, or they simply don’t give a damn.

As things stand, the Tier Two countries are just there to fill up numbers and play no significant role. World Rugby can host its World Cup with only the top eight countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France. A country like Argentina and one other qualifier can also be thrown into the mix. Then there are ten countries, which is more than enough.

Forget about groups. For balance, the top eight countries at the RWC can play each other once. After the round-robin round, the top two can clash in the final. Why quarter-finals and semi’s? It is only good for WR’s bank balance.

At the One-Day Cricket World Cup that started in India on Thursday, there are ten countries. In the round-robin round there are 45 matches. Yep, 45, because the countries play against each other once from October 5 to November 11. This is over a period of 37 days. The top four have two semi-finals and the final will be decided on 19 November.

The Rugby World Cup is currently played over 50 days. A few extra days won’t matter that much, with a balanced system where power meets power.

World Rugby will have to seriously reflect on its role as the grand daddy of the sport. Is the World Cup just there to fill World Rugby’s coffers? Much can and will be written and said, but is it like reasoning against thunder.

A country like Namibia must play at least eight tests a year. And not just against Zimbabwe and Kenya. How is WR going to help Namibia with that?

Lastly. Give the Tier Two nations their own world tournament. As the milk cows, they deserve better and at least a recognition prize for their passion, contribution and love of the game.

Comments

Namibian Sun 2024-11-07

No comments have been left on this article

Please login to leave a comment

Premier League: Fulham 2 vs 1 Brentford Katima Mulilo: 22° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 31° Eenhana: 21° | 31° Oshakati: 21° | 31° Ruacana: 20° | 31° Tsumeb: 19° | 26° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 23° Omaruru: 20° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 19° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 12:28, High tide: 06:39, Low Tide: 00:56, High tide: 18:52 Swakopmund: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:37, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:50 Walvis Bay: 15° | 24° Wind speed: 23km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:36, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:49 Rehoboth: 20° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 36° Aranos: 20° | 34° Lüderitz: 14° | 24° Ariamsvlei: 22° | 36° Oranjemund: 15° | 24° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 19° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 13° | 24° Maseru: 12° | 25° Antananarivo: 14° | 30° Lilongwe: 22° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 26° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 22° Durban: 16° | 23° Johannesburg: 15° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 31° Lusaka: 20° | 31° Harare: 17° | 30° Currency: GBP to NAD 22.41 | EUR to NAD 18.67 | CNY to NAD 2.42 | USD to NAD 17.3 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.25 | EGP to NAD 0.34 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.63 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.03 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.81 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.24 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1680.41 | USD to ZAR 17.31 | USD to ZMW 27.07 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1858.03 Down -1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14296.93 Down -0.02% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31045.26 Up +0.82% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9878.53 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 698.42/OZ UP +1.29% | Copper US$ 4.41/lb UP +4.45% | Zinc US$ 3 069.00/T UP 2.99% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 75.98/BBP UP +0.64% | Platinum US$ 992.17/OZ UP +0.80% Sport results: Premier League: Fulham 2 vs 1 Brentford Weather: Katima Mulilo: 22° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 31° Eenhana: 21° | 31° Oshakati: 21° | 31° Ruacana: 20° | 31° Tsumeb: 19° | 26° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 23° Omaruru: 20° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 19° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 12:28, High tide: 06:39, Low Tide: 00:56, High tide: 18:52 Swakopmund: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:37, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:50 Walvis Bay: 15° | 24° Wind speed: 23km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:36, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:49 Rehoboth: 20° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 36° Aranos: 20° | 34° Lüderitz: 14° | 24° Ariamsvlei: 22° | 36° Oranjemund: 15° | 24° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 19° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 13° | 24° Maseru: 12° | 25° Antananarivo: 14° | 30° Lilongwe: 22° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 26° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 22° Durban: 16° | 23° Johannesburg: 15° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 31° Lusaka: 20° | 31° Harare: 17° | 30° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 22.41 | EUR to NAD 18.67 | CNY to NAD 2.42 | USD to NAD 17.3 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.25 | EGP to NAD 0.34 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.63 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.03 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.81 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.24 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1680.41 | USD to ZAR 17.31 | USD to ZMW 27.07 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1858.03 Down -1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14296.93 Down -0.02% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31045.26 Up +0.82% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9878.53 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 698.42/OZ UP +1.29% | Copper US$ 4.41/lb UP +4.45% | Zinc US$ 3 069.00/T UP 2.99% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 75.98/BBP UP +0.64% | Platinum US$ 992.17/OZ UP +0.80%