The Sports Corner

‘Bring back old fashioned tour schedules’ says IRB Chairman

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset announced to the media, after a meeting with the heads of the top ten rugby unions in London last week, that rugby should be looking to “bring back old fashioned tour schedules”.

It’s an attempt to avoid the possible mutiny of Australia and New Zealand after current IRB scheduling arrangements end in 2010.

Lapasset’s announcement was seen as somewhat of a victory by some in the Southern Hemisphere where for too long, European nations have gotten away with sending subpar touring squads in June and July to face arguably the world’s three best teams: the Springboks, the Wallabies and the All Blacks.

“The issue of the playing calendar is incredibly complex,” said Lapasset. “It includes the requirements of clubs, provinces and national unions, two separate playing seasons, player welfare requirements and geographical and time zone considerations. Finding solutions that allow for growth, a balanced schedule and the promotion of meaningful matches has been a challenge.”

What is at stake is revenue.

Southern Hemisphere teams have long sent full strength teams to Europe which results in a financial windfall for their hosts. For instance, the Welsh Rugby Union will this year pocket approximately ₤17 million in revenue from four test matches against South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

At the same time, European nations send teams of unknown or emerging players to the Southern Hemisphere where the hosts cannot reap such rewards. The disparity in revenue from tours has now caused concern that SANZAR (South Africa New Zealand and Australia Rugby Unions) has become increasingly vocal and Australia and New Zealand in particular have threatened to end touring Europe unless hosting countries share profits with them or send full strength sides South.

The IRB talks resolved to investigate bringing back traditional tours of other hemispheres as there were many years ago.

That would involve the touring team bringing a large squad overseas and playing a traditional three test match series against the host and three mid-week matches against provincial or representative teams, allowing the touring country to develop their lesser experienced and youth players. The IRB will investigate the feasibility of such tours returning to the calendar.

But the IRB was warned, if they don’t act, in the words of New Zealand Rugby Union CEO, Steve Tew, “it will all be up for negotiation in two years.”

And Tew is not kidding. The New Zealand Rugby Union has already conducted some research into the possible benefits of breaking away from the IRB’s current scheduling, which could see a massive revenue gain and up to three more high quality international tests a year.

So while it is refreshing for Bernard Lapasset to signal some IRB support for the notion of fixing tour schedules and revenue sharing, only actions will keep what is becoming an ever more fragile union together.