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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
Can You See The All Blacks Joining A Rebel RWC? 11 views
28 September 2011 by The Swede Eaters
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Startling revelations that the All Blacks have threatened to boycott the next Rugby World Cup because of financial difficulties due to sponsorship. Scotty Donaldson looks at some options.
There is talk of the New Zealand All Blacks boycotting the Rugby World Cup 2015 because of the $13 million costs involved after defaulting on their sponsorship deals so that the International Rugby Board (IRB) can dominate the tournament with their own sponsorship deals which they use to spread the money and grow the game of rugby globally. The problem is that the New Zealand Rugby Union struggle to stop their players being bought by wealthier clubs in Europe and Japan and so will no longer be able to afford player wages if they continually lose out on sponsorship money. This problem is not only relevant to New Zealand with the other top nations losing out on their sponsorship deals.
But what are the options?
I think there is a chance to see the threat of a rival competition or tournament take place instead with more money for the players involved. This could be similar to what Kerry Packer did when he created World Series Cricket for his Channel Nine Network involving the best two teams the West Indies and Australia and the addition of a Super Team who played as the World X1. They had players from throughout the world including South Africa (who were banned at the time), England (including Tony Greig who was the recruiter), New Zealand's Richard Hadlee, India and Pakistan. Packer also revolutionised cricket by changing the colour of the ball, playing at night time and playing in "pyjama" style and coloured clothing.
Who is the next Kerry Packer after he passed away in 2005?
My plan for this would be to have a mini tournament which could just be a series between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. This could be a three or five match series. The other option is a mini tournament with four or six teams. We could have the British and Irish Lions, or a Six Nations team vs a composite side with Pacific Island backs and Argentinian forwards or an ANZACs team or a Tri Nations team (although Argentina will be included in the Tri Nations by then).
There needs to be a rival television network who can provide rights to the matches. Remember in 1995 situation when Jeff Wilson and Josh Kronfeld stood strong in defiance as the All Blacks looked to sign to a rival media organisation Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation at the beginning of professionalism? This could happen again!
There are other options like finding a way of making the existing Rugby World Cup more viable for all nations, like allowing more sponsors to be retained by teams. It will take ages, but it isn't as exciting as seeing "Super Teams" created and play in a tournament in a rebel competition.
Do you think there is the possibility of a rebel alternative to the Rugby World Cup, similar to the World Series Cricket situation?
rugbyworldcuptips.com
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